Lilly Maxwell - It is always a Bright idea to use a vote when you are (accidentally) given one

This week we are heading back to the world of the Women's Suffrage movement to discuss how a clerical error gave one shopkeeper a chance to vote in a General Election.Having worked her way up to the point where she met the property threshold for a vote (had she been a man) Lilly Maxwell found herself added to the electoral roll for a hastily arranged by-election in Manchester in November 1867.Encouraged to use this mistake as an opportunity to prove that a woman voting would not cause the world to end, Lilly, a Scotswoman in her 60s, had an opportunity to make history.But would she take it? Would her vote be counted? And what would the fallout be if she did?Guest Host: Evie Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.