It is the first statue of a female figure to be erected in the square following a campaign by writer and activist Caroline Criado Perez – who previously fought to get Jane Austen on the £10 note.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the “lasting” impact Ms Fawcett had had on public life, having been instrumental in the votes for women movement in the early 20th Century.
Mrs May said: “I would not be standing here today as prime minister, no female MPs would have taken their seats in Parliament, none of us would have had the right and protections we know enjoy, were it not for one truly great woman – Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett.”
She added: “For generations to come, this statue will serve not just as a reminder of Dame Millicent’s extraordinary life and legacy, but as inspiration to all of us who wish to follow in her footsteps.” Read more