Betty Boothroyd, also known as Baroness Boothroyd, was a British politician best known for breaking 700 years of parliamentary tradition in 1992 when she became the first woman to be elected speaker of the House of Commons. Before Boothroyd pursued a career in politics, she was educated at council schools and went on to study at Dewsbury College of Commerce and Art. She worked a number of jobs including being a dancer of the Tiller Girls dancing troupe, secretary to Labour MPs Barbara Castle and... moreBetty Boothroyd, also known as Baroness Boothroyd, was a British politician best known for breaking 700 years of parliamentary tradition in 1992 when she became the first woman to be elected speaker of the House of Commons. Before Boothroyd pursued a career in politics, she was educated at council schools and went on to study at Dewsbury College of Commerce and Art. She worked a number of jobs including being a dancer of the Tiller Girls dancing troupe, secretary to Labour MPs Barbara Castle and was part of the Kennedy Campaign in the early 1960s. After several attempts to get into politics, she was the Labour MP for West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000. In 1992 she was elected Speaker, becoming the first woman to hold that position, she even abolished the traditional Speaker's Wig. Boothroyd resigned in 2000 and was appointed to the position of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds. She was awarded numerous honorary degrees in recognition of her political career like the Doctor of Civil Law from City, University of London.
