Banner, suffrage banner

The 'Ask with courage' message applied to the banner refers to Herbert Asquith, the Liberal MP and British Prime Minister, who consistently opposed the introduction of a female suffrage bill. On 19th December 1907 Herbet Asquith, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, had declared ‘I am prepared to withdraw my opposition to female enfranchisement…the moment I am satisfied of two things…namely, first that the majority of women desire to have a Parliamentary vote, and next that the conferring of a vote upon them would be advantageous to their sex and the community at large’
With the appointment of Asquith as Prime Minister in April 1908 the Votes for Women campaigners rose to the challenge of his statement with two spectacular processions through London. Organised by the non-militant National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies and the militant Women’s Social & Political Union June 1908 embodied the hope, spirit and courage of the campaigners. It is likely this banner, was created for and carried during the WSPU procession of 21st June that also launched the WSPU purple, white and green tricolour.
The day following the procession this procession the Daily Chronical newspaper wrote ‘Never has so vast a throng gathered in London to witness a parade of political forces.’ However this spectacular demonstration to 'ask Asquith for the vote 'with courage' failed to impress the Prime Minister. His continuing defiant opposition to female suffrage was met with equal defiance by the Women's Social & Political Union as Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence declared later that year ‘The possibilities of constitutional agitation culminated on June 21 of this year. I would be impossible to have a greater demonstration than was then held….We have touched the limit of public demonstration….Nothing but militant action is left to us now’.