Betty Boothroyd was born on 8 October 1929 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire. Both her parents worked in the textile industry and were active in the Labour movement.

She danced with the Tiller Girls before becoming involved in politics. She later worked for Labour MPs, including Barbara Castle. Boothroyd stood for Parliament four times without success before winning the West Bromwich seat for Labour at a by-election in 1973.

She became Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in 1987. In 1992, MPs elected her Speaker, making her the first woman to hold the position. The Speaker presides over Commons debates, enforces parliamentary rules and must act impartially. Boothroyd set aside her party affiliation when she took office.

She chose not to wear the traditional Speaker’s wig. She held the position until 2000 and entered the House of Lords as a life peer in 2001. She died in February 2023, aged 93.