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Betty Boothroyd
British politician
Quick Facts
- In full:
- Baroness Boothroyd, of Sandwell in the County of West Midlands
- Political Affiliation:
- Labour Party
Betty Boothroyd (born October 8, 1929, Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, England—died February 26, 2023, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England) was a British Labour Party politician who was the first female speaker of the House of Commons (1992–2000). Boothroyd, whose parents were textile workers, grew up in northern England. She originally envisioned a career as a dancer, and after attending Dewsbury College of Commerce and Art, she performed for a time with a troupe called the Tiller Girls, a successful stage and television act. During the 1950s, Boothroyd worked as an assistant to Labour MPs including Barbara Castle. After twice unsuccessfully standing ...(100 of 387 words)