Launched on International Women's Day, 8 March 2018, March's patch celebrates the most well known suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst.

Manchester-born Emmeline Pankhurst founded the WSPU, the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903. The organisation was all-female, and was committed to moving on the fight for women’s right to vote by using militant methods - direct action rather than moderate dialogue. Pankhurst was frustrated by the lack of progress from decades of campaigning for women’s suffrage by both women and men, including her deceased husband, socialist campaigner Richard Pankhurst. Of the Pankhursts’ five children, three are also well known suffrage activists – Christabel, Sylvia and Adela.

The term ‘suffragette’ was first coined by a Daily Mail columnist who disparagingly altered the word ‘suffragist’ as the militant campaign increased its activity. The term was meant to convey a sneering sense of pretence, e.g. like sham leather – leatherette. However, the militants took ownership of the new moniker, and their name and actions are much better known than the vast networks of suffragist campaigners.