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Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

(1929-), Politician; Speaker of the House of Commons; life peer; Labour MP for West Bromwich

Sitter in 11 portraits
Boothroyd joined the Tiller Girls dancing troupe before pursuing a career in politics. She worked initially as a secretary in the House of Commons and first contested a seat in 1957. After standing in several elections and volunteering for Kennedy's presidential campaign, she won a seat as the Labour candidate for West Bromwich. Boothroyd served as Member of the European Parliament (1975-77) and Chancellor of the Open University (1994-2006). She was speaker of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2000, the only woman to have held this position. Upon her election, she chose not to wear the Speaker's wig; as a result, this tradition has been abolished. On retirement from Speakership, she was created a life peer.

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Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Nick Sinclair
bromide print, 1992
NPG P563(7)

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Brendan Kelly
oil on canvas, 2014
NPG 6982

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 2 November 1978
NPG x172474

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 2 November 1978
NPG x172475

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 2 November 1978
NPG x172477

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 2 November 1978
NPG x172478

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Anne-Katrin Purkiss
bromide fibre print, December 1994
NPG x76282

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Gemma Levine
cibachrome print, 1997
NPG x88876

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Boo Beaumont
bromide print, March 1998
NPG x87558

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Anita Corbin
C-type colour print, April 2010
NPG x138153

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 2 November 1978
NPG x172476

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Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd

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