ABSTRACT
The chapter analyses why Clara did not fulfil her ambition of becoming a Labour MP in the context of the marginalised position of women in the Labour Party. Rackham edits the ‘law at work’ column in The Woman’s Leader, the journal of the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship. She supports Hugh Dalton in the 1922 Cambridge by-election, is elected Labour councillor for West Chesterton, and stands unsuccessfully as Labour MP in Chelmsford. She moves into 9 Park Terrace in 1924. Rackham presides over the construction of the Romsey Labour Club opened by Ramsay MacDonald, actively supports the General Strike, and is elected a councillor for ‘Red Romsey’ in 1929. Rackham is appointed governor of Cambridgeshire College of Arts, Crafts and Technology and expands her teaching for the Eastern District of the Workers’ Educational Association. She supports Henry Morris, Director of Education for Cambridgeshire, in his visionary ideal of setting up village colleges across the county. Rackham reports to parliament on child sexual abuse and serves on a departmental committee on sexual offences against young persons. Appointed to a Home Office Committee on factory legislation, she sides with the socialist protectionists on the issue of protective factory legislation. Rackham becomes a magistrate, a founder member of the Magistrates’ Association, joins the Howard League for Penal Reform, is elected to the Executive Committee in 1927, and Vice-Chairman in 1932, and establishes a friendship with Margery Fry. Family life and parliamentary ambitions are disrupted by Harris Rackham’s serious riding accident.
