Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd
(1929-2023), Politician; Speaker of the House of Commons; life peer; Labour MP for West BromwichSitter 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.
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
chromogenic 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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