The Pankhursts and others set up the WSPU in Manchester in 1903, but moved offices to London in Autumn 1906 so that they could more effectively lobby Parliament and court newspapers.

The WSPU wanted Parliament to introduce and pass a bill allowing women the same voting rights as men. This meant women who owned or rented property (or whose husbands did) qualified. The WSPU realistically felt that the government would be reluctant to give the right to vote to the same number of women as men, but if they won the first battle they would gain ground and would go on eventually to secure the rights for all women.

Many middle-class and some working-class women joined the WSPU, participating in rallies, fund drives, petitions, and demonstrations.