On This Day

14 May 1930

The second day of the twelfth council meeting of the Women’s Liberal Federation continues at the Kingsway Hall, London. In a debate on sexual offences against children, former suffragette and Liberal parliamentary candidate, Commandant Mary Allen of the Women’s Auxiliary Service told the meeting that there was a good deal of rubbish talked about this subject. She said: ‘I stand before you as one of the bloodthirsty ones. I am in favour of capital punishment and I am in favour of flogging as a strong deterrent. Too much nonsense is talked about excusing criminals.’ Allen went increasingly right wing after this openly declaring herself a fascist and joining Mosley’s British Union of Fascists.