ABSTRACT
The salience of parties in British politics attracted women to them. Very many women were attracted either by the hope of using them as vehicles to advance women's position in society, or to advance levels of social-welfare provision, or often both. Women were a majority of voters in the general election of 1945 which brought Labor its first ever outright, landslide victory and a majority of the women who cast their votes voted Labour. In Britain, women's participation in political parties was part of a movement to advance women which was very broadly based in terms of social composition, aims, and activities. Leaders of the Labour women also encouraged them to observe closely the administration of local services, to ensure that the obligations of local authorities were carried out and that permissive legislation was implemented to the maximum. Labour women expressed a particular conception of the current nature and desirable future of marriage.
