In 1907 a group of members led by Teresa Billington-Greig called for more democracy at the WSPU's annual meetings.

She declared that a small committee chosen by the members in attendance in 1907 be allowed to co-ordinate WSPU activities.

Several WSPU members, including Billington-Greig and Charlotte Despard, subsequently broke with the organisation, quitting to form the Women's Freedom League (WFL).

Emmeline Pankhurst and Tuke were already under arrest as they and Kitty Marshall had thrown a stone through a window of 10 Downing Street.

In 1925 Tuke and the Pankhurst's created an ill fated tea shop in the South of France at Juan-les-Pins.