Betty Boothroyd was a British politician and former Speaker of the House of Commons, the first woman to hold this position. She was born on October 8, 1929, in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England.
Boothroyd began her political career as a member of the Labour Party and was first elected to Parliament in 1973 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich.
She held various positions in the Labour Party before being appointed as the Speaker of the House of Commons in 1992, a position she held until 2000.
As Speaker, Boothroyd was known for her impartiality and firmness in maintaining the rules and traditions of the House of Commons. She was also a strong advocate for modernizing Parliament and making it more accessible to the public.
After retiring as Speaker, Boothroyd was made a life peer and became Baroness Boothroyd.
She continued to be active in politics, serving as Chancellor of the Open University from 1994 to 2006 and as a member of the House of Lords.
Boothroyd died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital on 26 February 2023 at the age of 93. Her death was announced the following day by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House.
Betty Boothroyd Siblings: Meet Roy Boothroyd, Doris Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd had two siblings, both older than her. Her brother, Roy Boothroyd, was a pilot who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and later worked as a civil servant.
Her sister, Doris Boothroyd, was a schoolteacher. Both of Boothroyd’s siblings predeceased her, with Roy passing away in 2012 and Doris passing away in the 1990s.
source:nsemwokrom.com