The Chair of Trustees of the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal Jean Calder said: “This wonderful news. It is unusual for such an award to be considered for someone who is no longer alive, but it is an honour for Mary that we gratefully support.”

“We are thankful to Cllr Bella Sankey and her colleagues for this recognition of Mary’s courage and of her contribution to the struggle for women’s rights and universal suffrage.”

Women’s suffrage founder to be awarded freedom of the city