Barbara Ayrton-Gould

Barbara Bodichon Ayrton-Gould (née Ayrton; June 1886 – 14 October 1950) was a Labour politician and suffragist in the United Kingdom.

Background and family life

She was born in Kensington, London, the daughter of prominent electrical engineers and inventors Hertha Marks Ayrton and William Edward Ayrton. She was educated at Notting Hill High School, and studied chemistry and physiology at University College, London.^[1] She married the writer Gerald Gould (1885–1936);^[2] the artist Michael Ayrton (1921–1975) was their son. Until 1930, Gould worked as publicity manager of the Daily Herald.^[1]

Suffrage work

She became a member of the Women's Social and Political Union in 1906 and was a full-time organizer for them by 1909.^[3] She wrote the pro-suffrage pamphlet The Democratic Plea for the Men's Political Union for Women's Enfranchisement.^[1][3] She participated in smashing store windows in the West End of London in March of 1912 for suffrage, after which she served time in prison.^[3] In 1913, she went to France, disguised as a schoolgirl, so she would not be arrested again.^[1][3] She left the Women's Social and Political Union in 1914 due to frustration with the autocratic tendencies of their leaders, as well as Christabel Pankhurst's continuing absence.^[1][3] But on 6 February 1914 she, her husband and Evelyn Sharp became the founders of the United Suffragists,^[1] which had male and female members.^[3] The United Suffragists ended their campaign when 1918's Representation of the People Act gave women limited suffrage in the United Kingdom.^[3]

Political office

Barbara Ayrton-Gould became a member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party in 1929,^[4] and served as vice-Chair in 1938 and Chair of the Labour Party from 1939 to 1940.^[2] As from 1922, she made four unsuccessful attempts to get elected as MP.^[1] During the general election of 1929 she missed victory in Northwich by only four votes.^[5] The fifth time, Gould was elected Member of Parliament for newly created Hendon North constituency in Labour's landslide victory of 1945.^[2] The forerunner constituency, Hendon had since 1935 grown considerably in population (and to some extent number of homes) and was split in two; it had been solidly won by Conservative candidates since 1910, however the north division fell to Gould's campaign, a feat not to be repeated until 1997 by a Labour candidate. In Parliament, the two main issues of Gould's concern were food supplies and child poverty. Thus, she succeeded in introducing a resolution which called for a government enquiry into child neglect.^[6]

Gould held the seat until losing the next general election (in 1950), when it was gained by Ian Orr-Ewing (Con).^[4] She withdrew as prospective candidate for the constituency in September because of ill health.^[4] A month later Gould died, eight months after leaving the House of Commons.^[2]

References

1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866-1928 by Elizabeth Crawford; UCL Press, 1999
2. 1 2 3 4 "FORMER M.P.-Death of Mrs. Barbara Ayrton Gould". Western Morning News. 16 October 1950. Retrieved 12 October 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)). 
3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 'Suffragette': The Real Women Who Inspired the Film; Bio., 23 October 2015, by Sara Kettler
4. 1 2 3 "Mrs Ayrton-Gould Withdraws". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 5 September 1950. Retrieved 12 October 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)). 
5. ↑ "THIRTEEN WOMEN MEMBERS". Gloucestershire Echo. 1 June 1929. Retrieved 15 October 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)). 
6. ↑ For what we have done and for what we have failed to do: Barbara Ayrton Gould by Kathryn Perera, LabourList, 3 January 2011

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Barbara Ayrton-Gould