Betty Boothroyd Wiki – Betty Boothroyd Biography

LONDON (AP) — Betty Boothroyd  Britain’s first and so far only female speaker of the House of Commons, has died, parliament officials said Monday. She was 93 Boothroyd, who presided over the often raucous House of Commons debates with no-nonsense humor between 1992 and 2000, died in a Cambridge hospital in southern England on Sunday.

Born in Dewsbury, in the north of England, in 1929, Boothroyd worked as a dancer in a choir group called the Tiller Girls before entering politics. She worked as an assistant to various legislators and, after several unsuccessful runs, she was elected to Parliament in 1973 for the Labor Party.

Nineteen years later, she became the first woman to be elected speaker by legislators in the office’s 700-year history. She abandoned the tradition of wearing a shoulder-length white wig, preferring the skirts over the knee-length breeches worn by her predecessors. Her iron-voiced warning of ″Order! Order!” and energetic Yorkshire humor helped keep wayward lawmakers at bay.

After leaving work, she was appointed to the unelected upper house of Parliament, the House of Lords. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who served from 1997 to 2007, said Boothroyd “was a truly outstanding speaker, presiding with great authority, warmth and wit, for which she had our deep respect and admiration.”

Betty Boothroyd Age

The age of Betty Boothroyd was 93 years.

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Betty Boothroyd cause of death

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle called Boothroyd “an inspiring woman” and “an inspiring politician.” “She stuck to the rules, she had a no-nonsense style, but any rebuke she issued was done with good humor and charm,” she said. “Betty was unique. She a sharp, witty and formidable woman, and I will miss her.”

Before becoming a speaker, she served as a Labor MP for West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000. She later served as a Baroness in the House of Lords from 2001 until her death. The current president, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, described her as “an inspiring woman” who was known for her “no-nonsense style” of hers.

“Being the first female speaker was truly groundbreaking and Betty certainly broke through that glass ceiling with panache. “Betty was one of a kind. A sharp, witty and formidable woman, and I will miss her,” she said. Senior Labor MP Margaret Hodge described Baroness Boothroyd as “a trailblazer”.

She was born on 8 October 1929 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, the only daughter of mill workers. Growing up in a political environment – her father was a trade unionist – she described herself as “a labor movement out of the womb”. However, she did not immediately go into politics, instead she pursued a career as a dancer.

Deciding that she lacked the talent to go on stage, she took various office jobs before becoming involved in politics. She worked for Barbara Castle, Labor MP, and on the campaign to elect John F. Kennedy as President of the United States. In May 1973, after several attempts, she entered Parliament, securing the West Bromwich seat, later renamed West Bromwich West.Read More…..