Betty Boothroyd dead: 'No nonsense' first female House of Commons Speaker dies age 93

Betty Boothroyd, the first-ever female speaker of the House of Commons, has died aged 93.

Tributes have poured in for the former Labour MP who was well known for her no nonsense attitude and formidable character.

She held the role from 1992 until October 2000 and is regarded as one of the most respected politicians ever to have sat in the Speaker's chair.

She continued to make an invaluable contribution in the Lords after stepping down and was widely recognised as a “champion of Parliament".

Boothroyd became the first-ever female speaker of the House of Commons in 1992.
IAN NICHOLSON

Boothroyd worked as a secretary to Labour MPs Barbara Caster and Geoffrey de Freitas during the 1950s before being elected as an MP herself after a 1973 by-election in West Bromwich.

In 1987 she became Deputy Speaker where she remained for five years before being elected as Speaker in 1992.

In 2001 she was made a life peer and became Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell.

She famously said: "You've got to ensure that the holders of an opinion, however unpopular, are allowed to put across their points of view."

In a statement released by Sir Lindsay Hoyle he wrote: “Not only was Betty Boothroyd an inspiring woman, but she was also an inspirational politician, and someone I was proud to call my friend.

“To be the first woman Speaker was truly ground-breaking and Betty certainly broke that glass ceiling with panache.

“She was from Yorkshire, and I am from Lancashire - so there was always that friendly rivalry between us. But from my point of view, it was heartening to hear a Northern voice speaking from the Chair.

“She stuck by the rules, had a no-nonsense style, but any reprimands she did issue were don with good humour and charm.

PA

“Betty was one of a kind. A sharp, witty and formidable woman - and I will miss her.”

GB News' Esther McVey shared an image of Boothroyd and wrote: "Very sad to learn of the death of Betty Boothroyd, one of the House of Common’s greatest Speakers."

Rosie Duffield wrote: "RIP Betty Boothroyd. An incredible trail-blazer and role model for all women in politics."

David Davis addressed that the pair had their differences over the years but insisted that she was "a formidable Speaker and had a historic place as the first female Speaker of the House of Commons."