Severe poverty affected the people of Poplar in the 1920s. The first Labour mayor of the borough George Lansbury, along with 39 newly elected Labour councillors, sought to relieve poverty by campaigning for the equalisation of the rates. Rates were set by central government and Poplar was paying more than double the amount being paid by richer boroughs like Westminster.

The decision was made by the councillors to “break a bad law”. From March 1921 they refused to collect and pay the rates so that money could be concentrated on poor relief. The London County Council took the councillors to court over the “rates strike” and eventually they were arrested.

Between 1 and 8 September 30 councillors were jailed. Some were arrested at home, but the five women councillors – Julia Scurr, Nellie Cressall, Minnie Lansbury, Jenny Mackay and Susan Lawrence – gathered together outside Poplar Town Hall on Newby Place. A large crowd of supporters tried to prevent their arrest. But Susan Lawrence spoke to the crowd saying, “We are here representing a principle which we have the right to defend as well as the men. If you prevent us from going, you do us the worst turn you can.” The women were given flowers and then driven slowly down the East India Dock Road surrounded by 10,000 supporters before being taken to Holloway Prison.

Conditions in prison were bad, food was terrible and the prisoners were subject to humiliation from the warders. Many of the councillors became ill. After six weeks in prison all the councillors were released without having to make any guarantees to collect the high rates the authorities were demanding. They had won. However, Minnie Lansbury never recovered her health after her time in prison and died six weeks later.

Poplar Town Hall was later demolished and housing stands on the site now.