Betty Boothroyd

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd, OM, PC (8 October 1929 – 26 February 2023) was a British politician who served as a member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000. A member of the Labour Party, she served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2000. She was previously a Deputy Speaker from 1987 to 1992.^[2] She was the first and to date only woman to serve as Speaker.^[3] Boothroyd later sat in the House of Lords as, in accordance with tradition, a crossbench peer.^[4]

The Right Honourable The Baroness Boothroyd OM PC
Official portrait, 2018
Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
In office 28 April 1992 – 23 October 2000^[1]
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	John Major Tony Blair
Preceded by	Bernard Weatherill
Succeeded by	Michael Martin
Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Second Deputy Chair of Ways and Means
In office 17 June 1987 – 27 April 1992
Speaker	Bernard Weatherill
Preceded by	Paul Dean
Succeeded by	Janet Fookes
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 15 January 2001 – 26 February 2023 Life peerage
Member of Parliament for West Bromwich West West Bromwich (1973–1974)
In office 24 May 1973 – 23 October 2000
Preceded by	Maurice Foley
Succeeded by	Adrian Bailey
Personal details
Born	(1929-10-08)8 October 1929 Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died	26 February 2023(2023-02-26) (aged 93) Cambridge, England
Resting place	St George's Church, Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, England
Political party	Labour (before 1992) Speaker (1992–2000) Crossbench (from 2001)
Alma mater	Kirklees College
Signature

Early life

Boothroyd was born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, in 1929, as the only child of Ben Archibald Boothroyd (1886–1948) and his second wife Mary (née Butterfield, 1901–1982), both textile workers. She was educated at council schools and went on to study at Dewsbury College of Commerce and Art (now Kirklees College). From 1946 to 1952, she worked as a dancer, as a member of the Tiller Girls dancing troupe,^[5] briefly appearing at the London Palladium. A foot infection brought an end to her dancing career and she entered politics, something then unusual, as the political world was heavily male-dominated and mostly aristocratic.^[6]

During the mid-to-late 1950s, Boothroyd worked as secretary to Labour MPs Barbara Castle^[7] and Geoffrey de Freitas.^[8] In 1960, she travelled to the United States to see the Kennedy campaign. She subsequently worked in Washington, DC as a legislative assistant to American Congressman Silvio Conte, between 1960 and 1962. When she returned to London, she resumed her work as a secretary and political assistant to various senior Labour politicians including Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Harry Walston.^[9] In 1965, she was elected to a seat on Hammersmith Borough Council, in Gibbs Green ward, where she remained until 1968.^[10][11]

Member of Parliament

Running for the Labour Party, Boothroyd contested several seats – Leicester South East in 1957, Peterborough in 1959, Nelson and Colne in 1968, and Rossendale in 1970 – before being elected Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich in a by-election in 1973.^[10] She represented the constituency for 27 years.

In 1974, Boothroyd was appointed an assistant Government Whip. In 1975, she became a Government-appointed member of the then European Common Assembly (ECSC) until she was discharged in 1977.^{[12][13][14][15]} In 1979, she became a member of the Select committee on Foreign Affairs, until 1981, and of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen, until 1 January 2000.^[16] She was a member of the Labour Party National Executive Committee (NEC) from 1981 to 1987,^[16] and the House of Commons Commission from 1983 to 1987.^[17]

Deputy Speaker and Speaker

See also: 1992 Speaker of the British House of Commons election

 

Boothroyd's Speaker's shoe in the Women's Library

Following the 1987 general election Boothroyd became a Deputy Speaker to the Speaker Bernard Weatherill. She was the second female Deputy Speaker in British history after Betty Harvie Anderson. In 1992 she was elected Speaker, becoming the first woman to hold the position. There was debate about whether Boothroyd should wear the traditional Speaker's Wig. She chose not to but stated that any subsequent Speakers would be free to choose to wear the wig or not; none have since done so.^[18] In answer to the debate as to how she should be addressed as Speaker, Boothroyd said: "Call me Madam".^[19]

In 1993, the Government won a vote on the Social Chapter of the Maastricht Treaty due to her casting vote (exercised in accordance with Speaker Denison's rule). It was subsequently discovered that her casting vote had not been required, as the votes had been miscounted, and the Government had won by one vote.^[20][21] She was keen to get young people interested in politics, and in the 1990s appeared as a special guest on the BBC's Saturday morning children's programme Live & Kicking.^[22] Her signature catchphrase in closing Prime Minister's Questions each week was "Time's up!"^[3]

On 12 July 2000, following Prime Minister's Questions, Boothroyd announced to the House of Commons she would resign as Speaker after the summer recess. Tony Blair, then prime minister, paid tribute to her as "something of a national institution". Blair's predecessor, John Major, described her as an "outstanding Speaker".^[23] She stepped down as Speaker and resigned as an MP on 23 October 2000.^[24]

Life peerage and later activity

Boothroyd was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law (Hon DCL) by the City University London in 1993. She was chancellor of the Open University from 1994 until October 2006 and donated some of her personal papers to the University's archives. In March 1995, she was awarded an honorary degree from the Open University as Doctor of the University (DUniv). In 1999 she was made an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh's College, Oxford.^[25] Two portraits of Boothroyd have been part of the parliamentary art collection since 1994 and 1999, respectively.^[26][27]

On 15 January 2001, she was created a life peer, taking as her title Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell in the County of West Midlands.^[28] Her autobiography was published in the same year. In April 2005, she was appointed to the Order of Merit (OM), an honour in the personal gift of the Queen.^[29]

Boothroyd was made an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Light and Lighting (Hon. FSLL) in 2009,^[30][31] and she was an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh's College, Oxford, and of St Edmund's College, Cambridge.^[32] She was Patron of the Jo Richardson Community School in Dagenham, East London, and President of NBFA Assisting the Elderly. She was, for a period, Vice President of the Industry and Parliament Trust.

In January 2011, Boothroyd posited that Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's plans for some members of the upper house to be directly elected could leave Britain in constitutional disarray: "It is wantonly destructive. It is destruction that hasn't been thought through properly." She was concerned that an elected Lords would rival the Commons, risking power-struggles between the two.^[33]

Personal life and death

Boothroyd neither married nor had children.^[34][35] She took up paragliding while on holiday in Cyprus in her 60s. She described the hobby as both "lovely and peaceful" and "exhilarating".^[36] In April 1995, whilst on holiday in Morocco, Boothroyd became trapped in the Atlas Mountains in the country's biggest storm in 20 years. Her vehicle was immobilised by a landslide; she and a group of hikers walked through mud and rubble for nine hours before they were rescued.^[37][38]

Boothroyd died at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge on 26 February 2023, at the age of 93.^[39] Her death was announced the following day by Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House.^[3][40] Her funeral was held on 29 March at St George's Church, Thriplow, Cambridgeshire; she had lived in the village in her later years.^[41] Hoyle, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer, were among those in attendance,^[42][15]and her close friend, actress Dame Patricia Routledge, sang.^[43]

Arms

Coat of arms of Betty Boothroyd

Notes Granted 8 October 1993 by Conrad Swan, Garter King of Arms.^[44] Coronet A Coronet of a Baroness Escutcheon Gules, a representation of the mace of the Speaker of the House of Commons palewise Or surmounted in base by a rose Argent barbed and seeded Proper over all on a fess Gold an owl guardant Proper between two millrinds Sable. Motto I Speak To Serve^[45]^[46] Orders Order of Merit since 2005. Other elements Atop the lozenge is a green forget-me-not bow or lovers' knot which indicates that she never married. Symbolism The mace is a symbol of Parliament, and thus represents Lady Boothroyd's role as Speaker of the House of Commons. The white rose represents Lady Boothroyd's home county of Yorkshire, while the owl represents her alma mater, Dewsbury Technical College. The millrinds refer to her constituency of West Bromwich because they symbolise the industrial revolution, which is a dominant part of that area's history. Her motto can be explained in her own words: I only speak when I've got something to say, and when I've something to say, I'm trying to serve my country, and to serve the philosophy that I cherish very much. The green bow atop of the crest (forget-me-not bow or lovers' knot) indicates that she has not been married.^[47]^[48]

Honorary degrees

Boothroyd received at least eight honorary degrees in recognition of her political career,^[49] including:

• 6 December 1993: Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) from City, University of London^[50]
• 1994: Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) from the University of Cambridge^[51]
• 18 March 1995: Doctor of the University (D.Univ.) from the Open University^[52]
• 1995: Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) from the University of Oxford^[53]
• 26 June 2003: Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) from the University of St Andrews^[54]

Boothroyd was additionally made an Honorary Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge, in 1994.^[55]

Publications

• Betty Boothroyd: The Autobiography. London: Century. 2001. ISBN 978-0-7126-7948-0.

References

1. Journals of the House of Commons (PDF). Vol. 249. 1992–1993. p. 2.
2. "Miss Betty Boothroyd". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 13 May 2021.
3. Morris, Sophie (27 February 2023). "Baroness Boothroyd, first female Speaker of the House of Commons, has died aged 93". Sky News. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
4. "Parliamentary career for Baroness Boothroyd – MPs and Lords – UK Parliament". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
5. "Betty Boothroyd: To Parliament and beyond". BBC. 24 October 2001. from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
6. . Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
7. "Baroness Boothroyd". UK Parliament Website. Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
8. Political Correspondent (9 November 1957). "Sir Victor Raikes Resigns Seat". The Times.
9. Betty Boothroyd Autobiography Paperback – 3 Oct 2002 (synopsis). ASIN 0099427044.
10. "Exhibition: Betty Boothroyd". Open University. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
11. "London Borough Council Elections 7 May 1964" (PDF). London Datastore. London County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
12. "EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (MEMBERSHIP) (Hansard, 1 July 1975)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 1 July 1975. from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
13. "EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (MEMBERSHIP) (Hansard, 1 March 1977)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 1 March 1977. from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
14. Langdon, Julia (27 February 2023). "Lady Boothroyd obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
15. "Sunak and Starmer pay tribute to Betty Boothroyd at funeral of first woman speaker". The Independent. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
16. "Baroness Boothroyd". UK Parliament – MPs and Lords. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
17. Tominey, Camilla (27 February 2023). "Betty Boothroyd, first female Speaker, dies aged 93". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
18. BBC Parliament coverage of the election of the Speaker of the House of Commons, 22 June 2009;
19. "British Parliament's New Speaker Says 'Call Me Madam'". The Christian Science Monitor. 29 April 1992. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
20. "Madam Speaker's career". BBC News. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
21. Rentoul, John (4 April 2019). "The House of Commons is so divided on Brexit it has had its first tied vote for decades". The Independent. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
22. "Broadcast – BBC Programme Index". BBC. February 1997. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
23. "Boothroyd praised as 'national institution'". BBC News. 12 July 2000. from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
24. "No. 56014". The London Gazette. 31 October 2000. p. 12206.
25. "The Rt Hon. Baroness Boothroyd OM". St Hugh's College, Oxford. from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
26. Art in Parliament: THE RT. HON BETTY BOOTHROYD CHOSEN SPEAKER IN THE YEAR 1992 6 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine; Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
27. "Artwork – Baroness Boothroyd". UK Parliament. from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
28. "No. 56095". The London Gazette. 19 January 2001. p. 719.
29. "No. 57645". The London Gazette. 20 May 2005. p. 6631.
30. Newsletter 6, 15 October 2009, of the Society of Light and Lighting 12 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine – website of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
31. "House Heroes". PoliticsHome.com. 23 November 2016. from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
32. "St Edmund's College – University of Cambridge". st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk. from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
33. Kirkup, James (16 January 2011). . Archived from the original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
34. Langdon, Julia (27 February 2023). "Lady Boothroyd obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
35. "Betty: I refused three marriage proposals". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
36. McSmith, Andy (12 July 2000). "Superstar who ruled MPs with an iron rod and a ready wit". The Daily Telegraph. from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
37. "Superstar who ruled MPs with an iron rod and a ready wit". The Daily Telegraph.
38. "Madam Speaker's career". BBC News.
39. Tominey, Camilla (27 February 2023). "Betty Boothroyd, first female Speaker, dies aged 93". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
40. "Former Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd dies". BBC News. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
41. "Betty Boothroyd: Funeral held for first woman Commons Speaker". BBC News. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
42. "Prime Minister leads tributes to "remarkable" speaker Baroness Betty Boothroyd at funeral". ITV News. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
43. "Betty Boothroyd: Funeral held for first woman Commons Speaker". BBC News. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
44. "Grant of Arms: Betty Boothroyd 1993". Stephen Plowman – Heraldry Online. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
45. Kidd, Charles; Shaw, Christine, eds. (2008). Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage (145 ed.). p. 150. ISBN 978-1-870520-80-5.
46. "House of Commons Speaker's Residence". C-SPAN. from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
47. "Lords fail to find house room for Lady Boothroyd's crest". The Daily Telegraph. 28 January 2001. from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
48. "Baroness Boothroyd on her official portrait as Commons Speaker by Andrew Festing". from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via YouTube.
49. "The Rt Hon. the Baroness Boothroyd OM". David Nott Foundation. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
50. . City, University of London. Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
51. "Selected Honorands". 22 February 2013. from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
52. "Archived copy" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
53. "Honorary degrees". 21 July 1995. from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
54. . st-andrews.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
55. "Honoray Fellows" (PDF). Newnham College – University of Cambridge. Retrieved 29 September 2022.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Betty Boothroyd.

• Archives Hub – Papers of Betty Boothroyd (Biography)
• Brief biography by BBC News Online, October 2000
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Betty Boothroyd
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Portraits of Betty Boothroyd at the National Portrait Gallery, London  

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Maurice Foley	Member of Parliament for West Bromwich 1973 – February 1974	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for West Bromwich West February 1974–2000	Succeeded by Adrian Bailey
Preceded by Sir Paul Dean	Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means 1987–1992	Succeeded by Dame Janet Fookes
Preceded by Bernard Weatherill	Speaker of the House of Commons 1992–2000	Succeeded by Michael Martin
Academic offices
Preceded by The Lord Briggs	Chancellor of the Open University 1994–2006	Succeeded by The Lord Puttnam