Former Prime Minister backs Nancy Astor Statue Appeal

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron has joined the growing support for an appeal to raise a statue to the first woman to take her seat in Parliament, Nancy Astor. He joins the present Prime Minister Theresa May and other icons of politics from all political parties.

In a statement, David Cameron said: "I am delighted to support Plymouth's campaign to commemorate Nancy Astor, the first woman to sit in the House of Commons, by commissioning a statue in her honour. 

"I do so for three reasons. First, to recognise the centenary of Nancy Astor's ground-breaking election as a Conservative MP. Second, because a century on, women are quite rightly playing a greater role in politics at all levels, but we need to do so much more. I hope that this statue - and Nancy Astor's remarkable story - will encourage more women and girls to get involved in our political system. 

"And third, because of my own family's connection to Nancy Astor. She was my wife, Samantha's, step-father's grandmother, and has always served as an inspiration to the women in my family - not least my daughter, Nancy, who shares her name with her remarkable ancestor.

"I commend the Lady Astor 100 Statue Campaign for their work to commission a statue of Nancy Astor in her former Plymouth consistency, and wish the campaign well in all their efforts."

The appeal has been backed by Theresa May who said at the launch of the Crowdfunding campaign: "As the first woman to take her seat in Parliament, Nancy Astor paved the way for the many - but still too few - women who have followed in her footsteps over the last hundred years.

"As she said in her maiden speech, her fellow MPs ‘should not be frightened of what Plymouth sends out into the world' - indeed, Plymouth and the whole UK should be proud of the great strides Nancy Astor made for equality and representation.

"I am proud to serve as the UK's second female Prime Minister in a Parliament with more female MPs than ever before. But I want that number to continue to grow - so I am proud to support this initiative to mark the centenary of Nancy Astor's election with a statue, and hope it will inspire new generations of women and girls to play their full part in our democracy."

Nancy Astor was voted in by the people of Plymouth on 28th November 1919. She was the first woman to take her seat in Parliament when she walked into the House of Commons on 1st December 1919, facing up to more than 620 largely hostile men who threw torn up pieces of paper at her and refused to move their knees to let her sit.

She continued to serve as an MP for 26 years representing Plymouth Sutton. There is no statue to her. Campaigners are trying to raise funds to see a statue of Nancy Astor unveiled on The Hoe in Plymouth outside Lady Astor's former family home on 28th November 2019 - 100 years to the day since she was voted in and to mark 100 years of women in parliament.

The Crowdfunder has only five days left to raise (closes on 27th December 2018). Project manager Alexis Bowater said: "This is a project by the people for the people and funded by the public. We have just five days left to raise the money to raise the statue to the first woman to take her seat in Parliament.

"Together we can do this. Nancy Astor turned western democracy on its head when she walked into the Houses of Parliament for the first time. She loved Plymouth and Plymouth loved her and this city and beyond is rising once more to make history again just as they did when they put the first woman in parliament.

"They say behind every great man is a great woman; but behind every great woman is a great man. - and in Nancy Astor's case there was a great city too. And now a great and growing crowd as well.

"This time next year every person who has donated, large or small, will be able to stand on The Hoe in Plymouth and look at the first statue of Lady Astor and say: "I did that." Together we will do this. Every single person donating to this is an Astor 100 hero, dedicated to showing their support for democracy, equality and freedom and a pivotal moment in democratic history. But time is ticking on this raise and we need people to get on board right now to hit that deadline."

For more information or to donate please visit www.ladyastorstatue100.co.uk