Statue of suffragist Millicent Fawcett is 'dream come true', says campaigner Caroline Criado Perez

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Robert Dex @RobDexES24 April 2018

The unveiling of the statue of suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square is a dream come true, says the woman behind the campaign for it.

Caroline Criado Perez’s petition calling for a statue recognising the suffrage campaign was signed by almost 85,000 people. Today she attended the ceremony alongside artist Gillian Wearing, Sadiq Khan and Theresa May.

She said: “When I went for a run in Parliament Square two years ago and first noticed that all the statues there were of men I could never have imagined quite how perfectly the dream would eventually be realised.

“Gillian Wearing’s design is everything I could ever have wanted and more for the first statue of a woman in Parliament Square. I’m so grateful to everyone who worked so hard on this campaign to make this happen. It’s been a brilliant team effort, and one I’m so proud to have played a part in.”

To unveil the work, she joined Jennifer Loehnis, a descendant of Fawcett, deputy mayor for culture Justine Simons, and two schoolgirls from Westminster and Lambeth. Mr Khan said he hoped the statue would lead to “further change across society — driving forward gender equality and inspiring women and girls across the capital and UK.

“My huge thanks to Caroline for her passionate campaigning and to Gillian Wearing, who has brought Millicent Fawcett and her legacy to life through this magnificent work.”

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Fawcett, the first woman to be commemorated with a statue in the square, was a prominent campaigner for the right to vote as well as attempting to open up higher education to women.

In 1918, she watched from the public gallery as MPs passed the Representation of the People Act, granting voting rights for the first time to some women. She died a year later.

Wearing, who won the Turner Prize in 1997, praised “the care and attention” that went into the campaign. “I hope those viewing the work will be able to appreciate this along with being able to celebrate Millicent Fawcett along with all the other suffrage supporters and activists also honoured,” she said.

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