Mabel Philipson

Mabel Philipson (1 January 1887 – 8 January 1951) was a British actress and politician. She was the third female member to serve in the House of Commons after this became legally possible in 1918, representing Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Born Mabel Russell, she became a successful music hall and comedy actress. Widowed by 1911, in 1917 she married Hilton Philipson, a business owner and National Liberal politician; they had three children.

On 21 November 1918 the Parliamentary Qualification of Women Act, introduced a few weeks previously by Lord Robert Cecil was given Royal Assent, making women eligible as Members of Parliament.

Hilton Philipson was unseated on petition in 1923, due to a fraud involving his agent. Mabel Philipson was elected to the vacant seat as a Conservative, and held it until her retirement in 1929.

References

* John Sleight, "Women on the March" (1986)
*cite book |last=Craig |first=F. W. S. |authorlink= F. W. S. Craig |title=British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 |origyear=1969 |edition= 3rd edition |year=1983 |publisher= Parliamentary Research Services |location=Chichester |id= ISBN 0-900178-06-X