The goverment sought to deal with the problem of hunger striking suffragettes with the 1913 Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act, commonly known as the Cat and Mouse Act.
This Act allowed for the early release of prisoners who were so weakened by hunger striking that they were at risk of death. They were to be recalled to prison once their health was recovered, where the process would begin again.
Visit YouTube to watch our film exploring the suffragette movement in Birmingham.
Find connections, past and present, between Parliament and your town
Parliamentary Archives
Parliamentary Outreach
Access a trail leaflet featuring the Birmingham sites our groups discovered had links with the history of the right to vote.
Birmingham Archives and Heritage
Four Dwellings High School