Caroline Ganley

Caroline Selina Ganley, JP, CBE (née Blumfield; 16 September 1879 – 3 August 1966) was an English Labour and Co-operative politician.

Ganley was born in Plymouth, the daughter of a tailor. She became politically active in 1906 in opposition to the Boer War, and joined the Social Democratic Federation that year. She actively supported women's suffrage and helped set up what would become the Women's Labour League branch in Battersea. She became involved in the British Committee of the International Congress for Peace and Freedom in 1914.

Ganley was a school manager and governor, becoming a Justice of the Peace (JP) in 1920, one of London's first female magistrates. She joined the Labour and Co-operative Parties and served on Battersea Council (1919–25, 1953–65) and the London County Council (1925–29 and 1934–37), and was a member of the London County Education Committee. She contested the Paddington North seat at the 1935 general election.

At the 1945 general election, Ganley was elected as Member of Parliament for Battersea South. She narrowly held the seat in 1950 but was defeated by Ernest Partridge in 1951.

Ganley was elected a director of the West London Co-operative Society in 1918 and served on the board of its successor, the London Co-operative Society for many years and as President 1942-46, its first woman president. She held national positions in the Women's Co-operative Guild and was one of the speakers at its diamond jubilee celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall in 1943. She was awarded the CBE in 1953.

References

• From Kitchen Table to Conference Table: Caroline Selina Ganley, Archive Awareness Month 2007; accessed 10 January 2009.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Caroline Ganley