The Rt Hon. Baroness Boothroyd
Rt. Hon. Betty Boothroyd's autobiography cover.
Speaker of the House of Commons
In office
27 April 1992 – 23 October 2000
Preceded by	Bernard Weatherill
Succeeded by	Michael Martin
Born	8 October 1929 Dewsbury, England
Political party	Labour Party

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd, OM, PC (born October 8, 1929 in Dewsbury, England), is a British politician and was the first female Speaker of the House of Commons. Image File history File links Betty_Boothroyd. ... The Right Honourable (abbreviated The Rt. ... In the United Kingdom, the Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, and is seen historically as the First Commoner of the Land. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The Right Honourable Bruce Bernard Weatherill, Baron Weatherill, PC, DL, born 25 November 1920 in Guildford, Surrey to Bernard Bruce Weatherill (1883 - 1962) and Annie Gertrude Weatherill (nee Creak) (1886 - 1966) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Michael John Martin MP (born 3 July 1945) is the current Speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (282nd in leap years). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Statistics Population: 54,341 (2001) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SE245225 Administration District: Kirklees Metropolitan county: West Yorkshire Region: Yorkshire and the Humber Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: West Yorkshire Historic county: Yorkshire Services Police force: West Yorkshire Police Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: Yorkshire... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in the United Kingdom. ... For other Orders see Order of Merit (disambiguation). ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (282nd in leap years). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Statistics Population: 54,341 (2001) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SE245225 Administration District: Kirklees Metropolitan county: West Yorkshire Region: Yorkshire and the Humber Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: West Yorkshire Historic county: Yorkshire Services Police force: West Yorkshire Police Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: Yorkshire... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In the United Kingdom, the Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, and is seen historically as the First Commoner of the Land. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

Boothroyd was born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, in 1929, to Archibald and Mary Boothroyd, textile workers. She was educated at council schools^{[citation needed]} and went on to study at Dewsbury College of Commerce and Art. In the 1940s, she enjoyed a career as a dancer, as a member of the Tiller Girls dancing troupe in her younger years. Statistics Population: 54,341 (2001) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SE245225 Administration District: Kirklees Metropolitan county: West Yorkshire Region: Yorkshire and the Humber Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: West Yorkshire Historic county: Yorkshire Services Police force: West Yorkshire Police Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: Yorkshire... Look up Yorkshire in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Tiller Girls were popular dance troupes, first formed by John Tiller in Manchester, England, in 1890, who on visits to the theatre had noticed the overall effect of a chorus of dancers was often spoiled by lack of discipline. ...

Boothroyd contested parliamentary seats at Leicester South East (1957) and Peterborough (1959) before travelling to the United States in 1960 to witness the Kennedy campaign. She subsequently began work in Washington as a legislative assistant for an American Congressman, Silvio Conte, between 1960 and 1962. When she returned to London she continued her work as secretary and political assistant to various senior Labour politicians. In 1964 she was elected to a seat on Hammersmith Borough Council, in Gibbs Green ward, where she remained until 1968. Presidential electoral votes by state. ... Silvio Ottavio Conte (November 9, 1921 – February 8, 1991) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1959 until his death. ... The front of Hammersmith and Fulham town hall is a mixture of styles, with a modern block bolted on to, and obscuring, what would have once been an architecturally consistent red-brick portico. ...

She entered Parliament as the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich in a by-election in 1973. Boothroyd's career then flourished. In 1974 she was appointed an assistant Government Whip and she was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1975-1977. In 1979 she became a member of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, until 1981, and of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen, until 1987. She was also a member of the Labour Party National Executive Committee (NEC) from 1981-1987 and the House of Commons Commission from 1983-1987. She became a deputy Speaker in 1987. In 1992 she was elected Speaker, being the first woman ever to hold the position. There was some debate as to whether or not she should wear the traditional speaker's wig. In the end she did not, and the tradition was abolished as a result. In 1993, the Social Chapter of the Maastricht Treaty was defeated on her vote. The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in the United Kingdom. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... West Bromwich West is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... In politics, a whip is a member of a political party in a legislature whose task is to ensure that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires. ... A Member of the European Parliament (English abbreviation MEP)[1] is a member of the European Unions directly-elected legislative body, the European Parliament. ... A Select Committee is a committee made up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues originating in the Westminster System of parliamentary democracy. ... The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the Labour Party. ... A wig or toupee is a head of hair - human, horse-hair or synthetic - worn on the head for fashion or various other aesthetic and stylistic reasons, including cultural and religious observance. ... The Maastricht Treaty (formally, the Treaty on European Union) was signed on 7 February 1992 in Maastricht between the members of the European Community and entered into force on 1 November 1993, under the Delors Commission. ...

Boothroyd stepped down in 2000, and resigned as an MP, being succeeded by Michael Martin as Speaker. Michael John Martin MP (born 3 July 1945) is the current Speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. ...

Boothroyd was Chancellor of the Open University from 1994 until October 2006 and has donated some of her personal papers to the University's archives. A Chancellor is the head of a university. ... Affiliations EADTU, MSACS Website www. ...

In 2001 she was created a Life Peer, taking as her title Baroness Boothroyd, of Sandwell in the West Midlands. Her autobiography was published in 2001. In April 2005 she was appointed to the Order of Merit, an honour which is still in the personal gift of the Queen. In the United Kingdom, Life Peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles may not be inherited (those whose titles are inheritable are known as hereditary peers). ... Sandwell is a metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. ... For other Orders see Order of Merit (disambiguation). ...

She is unmarried and has no children. She was popular on both sides of the house as she always 'got um out for the lads"

Speakers of the House of Commons (20th Century)
William Court Gully | James William Lowther | John Henry Whitley | Edward FitzRoy | Douglas Clifton Brown | William Morrison | Harry Hylton-Foster | Horace King | Selwyn Lloyd | George Thomas | Bernard Weatherill | Betty Boothroyd

The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... West Bromwich West is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Adrian Bailey (born December 11, British politician, and Labour and Co_operative member of Parliament for West Bromwich West. ... The Right Honourable Bruce Bernard Weatherill, Baron Weatherill, PC, DL, born 25 November 1920 in Guildford, Surrey to Bernard Bruce Weatherill (1883 - 1962) and Annie Gertrude Weatherill (nee Creak) (1886 - 1966) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... In the United Kingdom, the Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, and is seen historically as the First Commoner of the Land. ... Michael John Martin MP (born 3 July 1945) is the current Speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. ... In the United Kingdom, the Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, and is seen historically as the First Commoner of the Land. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s The 20th century lasted from 1901 to 2000 in the Gregorian calendar (often from (1900 to 1999 in common usage). ... Image File history File links Portcullis_parliament. ... William Court Gully, 1st Viscount Selby (August 29, 1835 - November 6, 1909), Speaker of the British House of Commons, was the son of Dr James Manby Gully of Malvern. ... James William Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater PC GCB JP DL (1 April 1855–27 March 1949) was a British Conservative politician. ... John Henry Whitley was a respected and successful British politician whose life and career spanned a period of significant social change, from roots in the heart of the Industrial Revolution through to the inter-war period. ... Edward Algernon Fitzroy was born on the 24 July 1869, second son of the 3rd Lord Southampton. ... Douglas Clifton Brown (16 August 1879 - 5 May 1958) was a British politician, and later was created Viscount Ruffside. ... Lord Dunrossil William Shepherd Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil (8 October 1893 - 3 February 1961), 14th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Scotland and educated at Edinburgh University. ... Sir Harry Braustyn Hylton-Foster, (April 10, 1905 – September 2, 1965), was a British Conservative politician who served as an MP from 1950 until his death. ... Dr. Horace Maybray King, (May 25, 1901 – September 3, 1986), was a British politician who served as a Labour MP from 1950 until 1970 before becoming a life peer. ... John Selwyn Brooke Lloyd, Baron Selwyn-Lloyd (28 July 1904 - 18 May 1978), known for most of his career as Selwyn Lloyd, was a British Conservative politician. ... The Right Honourable Thomas George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy (29 January 1909 - 22 September 1997) was a British Labour politician. ... The Right Honourable Bruce Bernard Weatherill, Baron Weatherill, PC, DL, born 25 November 1920 in Guildford, Surrey to Bernard Bruce Weatherill (1883 - 1962) and Annie Gertrude Weatherill (nee Creak) (1886 - 1966) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ...

External link

• Archives Hub - Papers of Betty Boothroyd (Biography)

References

Betty Boothroyd: The Autobiography. Publisher: Century (4 Oct 2001). ISBN-10: 0712679480