Political cartoon exhibited at the Women's Exhibition

Political cartoon in model or 'peepshow' exhibited at the Women's Exhibition, May 1909. The two week Women's Exhibition, held at Prince's Skating Rink, Knighstbridge was organised by the Women's Social and Political Union both to raise funds and the profile of the Suffragette campaign. Educating visitors about the political debate and government intransigence on the issue of female suffrage was also a key purpose of the Exhibition. This image depicts number 1 of the 12 'satirical peepshows' created for the exhibition that ridiculed the Asquith government and, therefore, proved hugely popular with the visitors. Entitled 'Legal Robbery Taxation without Representation is Robbery' the cartoon is set in Downing street the models depicting Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer picking a woman's pocket. Whilst a nearby policeman appears to be shouting 'Stop Thief' Lloyd George replies 'Why? It is only a woman'. The cartoon refers to the Suffragette grievance that voteless women who paid taxes to the Government had no influence over how those taxes were spent.