#OTD one hundred years ago, the first speech by a woman in the House of Commons was given by Nancy Astor, MP for Plymouth Sutton between 1919–45. (1/7)

In her speech, she reflected that “I know that it is very difficult for some to receive the first lady MP into the House”. She once said that male MPs would rather have had a rattlesnake in Parliament than a woman. (2/7)

Although Astor hadn’t been a suffragette, she told her fellow MPs that “you must remember that women have got a vote now, and we mean to use it and use it wisely”. In 1918, 8.5 million women over 30, meeting property requirements, had won the vote for the first time. (3/7)

Her speech was about the alcohol sales restrictions, a cause that she was passionate about. She claimed that “I am thinking of the women and children”. This was a theme of her parliamentary contributions over 26 years. The whole debate is here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1920-02-24/debates/ef8f8b62-31fa-4b9a-af25-de2ee396132a/LiquorTraffic(Restrictions) (4/7)

In 1923, Astor secured a Private Member’s Bill and used it to ban the sale of alcohol to children under the age of 18. The Intoxicating Liquor (Sale to Persons under Eighteen) Act, nicknamed “Lady Astor’s Act”, is still on the statute books today. https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/parliamentary-collections/nancy-astor/intoxicating-liquors-act/ (5/7)

Astor's speech and election were well-received: @thetimes reported that “Lady Astor proved that women have much of value to give to the debates of the House”, while the satirical magazine Punch had previously published a cartoon apologising for its earlier anti-suffragism. (6/7)

Back in November, on the centenary of Nancy Astor's election as the first woman MP to take her seat, I chatted to @Emmabarnett on @bbc5live about her career. (7/7) https://twitter.com/RachelReevesMP/status/1200058883072569344?s=20