1-192-499 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

A suffragette struggling with a policeman on 'Black Friday', Westminster, London, 18th November 1910. The Conciliation Bill (which would have given the vote to women who occupied premises for which they were responsible) was shelved by the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith. On learning of this, the Women's Social and Political Union marched on the House of Commons, a riot followed and the women were assaulted - some being severely beaten - by police and others. The newspaper Votes for Women reported that 115 women and 4 men were arrested. The WSPU quickly learned the lessons of that day and a policy decision was made to pursue their campaign using different tactics. Large deputations were considered to be too dangerous and from this moment the suffragettes went underground and waged 'guerrilla warfare' (their phrase) against the Liberal Government.