23 FEBRUARY 1968, Page 3

To women MPs

or The dark horse of the sonnets

CHRISTOPHER HOLLIS

Shall I compare thee to an all-night sitting? Thou art more wordy and more obdurate, Those pretty wrongs of liberty committing Till order called or closure ends debate. Full fifty years have passed since votes were granted.

And wometis rights claimed equal to the male.

Yet man's rude mastery is scarce supplanted. Full fifty years—and what do they avail? What woman's magic voice has charmed the fancy With fresh repair the flagging soul renewing? The early Pankhursts or Virginian Nancy ? Or rose-topped Barbara? or Mrs Ewing? Whom shall we hail as leader of the

Madams—

Irene Ward—or just Sweet Fanny Adams?