[willbw]

"it would be absurd to suggest X" doesn't amount to a denial of support for X? Why not?

[cakedoggie]

> It would be absurd to suggest that women’s votes will be taken away

This suggest not that HE DOESN'T want them to be taken away, but he sees he has no chance of trying to take them away.

Not that this suggest he DOES WANT that, but it certainly doesn't suggest that he DEFINITELY DOES not want them taken away.