• Lord Birkenhead's speech on the second reading of the
Franchise Bill in the House of Lords on Tuesday was an amusing performance. He explained that he was an unrepentant anti-feminist, but that it had been his fate both in 1918 and again to-day " to lead his adversaries to victory." This seemed a hopeless contradiction, but as a matter of fact there had been a " golden thread of consistency " in his refusal to die for lost causes. In 1918 women were swept into the franchise by the tide of War-feeling. No man was excluded who had helped to win the War, and when once that principle had been established the Govern- ment were unable to resist the conclusion that women could not be refused the vote—for they also had helped to win the War. The decision of 1918 necessarily prejudged the decision of 1928. Then all " the brave " deserved the vote ; now all " the fair " deserved it. If an election were forced on this question all parties would combine to castigate the Lords, and he felt that as the country had long ago been placed on the slippery slope of female franchise it had better slide to the bottom with as much dignity as possible. He therefore urged the House to vote for the Bill " in a spirit if not of enthusiasm at least of resolute resignation." The second reading was carried by 114 votes to 85.
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