Medway Women's History Month: From Suffragettes to the Political Now

Jennifer Godfrey talks to former Chatham and Aylesford MP Dame Tracey Crouch DBE and current Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan about the rise of female representation in parliament and what struggles they still faced in the 21st Century drawing comparisons between them and the early female pioneers.

Jennifer Godfrey lives in West Kent with her husband two children and dog. She is the author of two non-fiction books published by Pen & Sword Ltd entitled ‘Suffragettes of Kent’ and ‘Secret Missions of the Suffragettes – Glass breakers and Safe Houses’. She is currently researching and writing her third book also about women’s suffrage. Jennifer has enjoyed writing stories since she was a young child and over the years has been involved in many writing courses groups and projects. 

Dame Tracey Crouch DBE was MP for Chatham and Aylesford for 14 years 2010-2024. Within that time Tracey held various posts including Minister for Sport Civil Society and Loneliness in 2017. She took a principled stand over the delay to introduce reduced limits on the stakes of fixed odds betting terminals and resigned the post in 2018.

With a particular focus on older people Tracey was responsible for implementing the Loneliness Strategy and held regular Over 55s fairs where the public could meet service providers and see what was available to them. She said: “From a Member of Parliament perspective you see so many people in the community when they reach crisis point and sadly they’re not necessarily aware of some of the activities that are out there for them which may have prevented them getting to that crisis point.” Tracey is also the Patron of our venue The Net Community Hub.

Naushabah Khan has been the MP Gillingham and Rainham since July

2024 after serving for a decade as a Medway Councillor. She proudly identifies as a feminist and previously served as a trustee for the Fawcett Society a leading charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights. Naushabah has been consistently vocal on issues affecting women particularly those from diverse communities.

Her commitment to amplifying these voices and addressing systemic inequalities has been a driving force throughout her political career. In Parliament Naushabah continues to champion policies that promote equality diversity and inclusion ensuring that the concerns of underrepresented communities are brought to the forefront of political discourse.

It will take place at The Net Community Hub 70 Silverweed Road Walderslade ME5 0QX from 11am-12noon on Saturday 22nd March 2025. Doors open 10.15am for refreshments.

Get their early for this fascinating discussion. The event is free and tea and coffee will be available for a suggested £1 donation. If you have difficulty due to mobility or finance issues attending the hub please contact Jaye at: [email protected] as there is a travel bursary available.

We look forward to seeing you.

Host or Publisher Rochester LitFest