Members of Oldham Women’s Labour came together at Annie Kenney’s statue on International Women’s Day, 8th March, to celebrate the women who fought for the right to vote including Annie Kenney, Lydia Beckett and Marjory Lees.

Parish Councillor Kathryn Phillips, Women’s Officer for Oldham East and Saddleworth Labour Party, laid some flowers in the purple, green and white of the Women’s Social and Political Union.

Councillor Phillips said ‘As well as remembering some of the brave women who fought for the right to vote and equality before the law between men and women, today we support women across the world who are fighting for the rights we have in this country. Women and girls in Afghanistan who can’t get an education and are being forced out of public life. Women and girls in Iran who have protested and died and are now being gassed in their schools. Women of Ukraine forced from their homes by Russian aggression and taking refuge here in Oldham and across Europe. Rape is yet again being used as a weapon of war.’

Councillor Hannah Roberts who represents Hollinwood on Oldham Council read the tribute and added ‘Every year on the 8th March, Jess Phillips MP reads out in Parliament the list of women killed in the last year by men. She says the list never gets shorter. This year the names she read out included Zara Aleena, killed by a stranger in public and Emma Pattison, Epsom headteacher believed to have been shot by her husband. This has to stop – a woman is killed every three days, prosecutions for rape are a rarity and reported cases of domestic abuse increase. Women are forced out of work because we have the highest childcare costs in Europe. Women retire with smaller pension pots than men and WASPI women still don’t have justice. Labour Women fight on for fair treatment, safe streets and equality at work. Come and join us.’