11 Facts About Marion Phillips

Marion Phillips was an Australian-born British Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament from 1929 to 1931.

Marion Phillips was born on 29 October 1881 in St Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, in colonial Australia.

Marion Phillips's parents were Philip David Phillips, Jewish Australian lawyer, and Rose Asher, who was from New Zealand.

Marion Phillips was educated at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne and University of Melbourne, graduating in 1903.

Marion Phillips edited the League's leaflet, which by 1913 became Labour Woman.

In 1916, Phillips was present at the formation of the Standing Joint Committee of Industrial Women's Organisations.

Marion Phillips served on a number of government committees before a woman had been elected to the country's parliament.

At the 1929 general election, Marion Phillips was elected as Member of Parliament for Sunderland.

In July 1928, Marion Phillips wrote to all women in the Sunderland constituency, stating that 'FOR WOMEN ESPECIALLY, THIS NEXT ELECTION WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN 1929 IS VERY IMPORTANT'.

Marion Phillips lost the 1931 election, and in 1932 died of stomach cancer, aged 50.

Marion Phillips was the first Jewish, and thus first non-Christian woman MP.