Charlotte Marsh

The Suffragette Charlotte Marsh dressed in replica prison clothing campaigning during the Chelmsford by-election, November, 1908. Campaigning at by-elections was a key policy of the women's Social and Political Union. Paid WSPU Organisers were sent to constituencies to rent temporary premises from where they co-ordinated campaigns to urge voters to 'keep the Liberal candidate' out. High profile guest speakers attracted large crowds and energised the by-election campaign. The Chelmsford by-election campaign was organised by the WSPU leader Flora Drummond. On this occasion their campaign appeared successful when the Conservative candidate defeated the Liberal MP by over 2,500 votes.