HYNDBURN LABOUR WOMEN'S FORUM

To celebrate 100 years of the Labour Party's franchise being extended to all men and women over 30 who met certain property qualifications on 8th March and to mark International Women's Week, the Hyndburn Labour ladies have started a Facebook group, Hyndburn Labour Women's Forum.

Co-founders Kimberley Whitehead and Loraine Cox said, "We are hoping to inspire, promote, empower and encourage women to join the Labour Party, take the step to being a Councillor or just get find out what's going on and attend the odd event."

Kimberley, who is the partner of Hyndburn MP Graham Jones, added, "We have some fantastic ideas and had lots of encouragement about the page and are excited about the journey ahead. Please share our page. Invite any females, we aren't anti-men so gents are allowed too and would welcome the support!"

Labour party member and former Church Councillor Joan Smith said, "Women have been an integral part of the Labour Party since it was first formed, in fact it was a woman Margaret Bondfield who seconded the motion at the TUC conference that the Labour Party should be formed. Women such as Beatrice Webb were prominent activists in the Fabian Society which was one of the groups that came together to form the Labour Party."

The group has a Facebook page here and you can follow them on Twitter here.