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Betty Boothroyd

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The Right Honourable
The Baroness Boothroyd
OM PC
Official portrait, 2018
Speaker of the House of Commons
of the United Kingdom
In office
28 April 1992 – 23 October 2000[1]
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJohn Major
Tony Blair
Preceded byBernard Weatherill
Succeeded byMichael Martin
In office
17 June 1987 – 27 April 1992
SpeakerBernard Weatherill
Preceded byPaul Dean
Succeeded byJanet Fookes
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Life peerage
15 January 2001 – 26 February 2023
Member of Parliament
for West Bromwich West
West Bromwich (1973–1974)
In office
24 May 1973 – 23 October 2000
Preceded byMaurice Foley
Succeeded byAdrian Bailey
Personal details
Born(1929-10-08)8 October 1929
Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died26 February 2023(2023-02-26) (aged 93)
Cambridge, England
Resting placeSt George's Church, Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, England
Party
Alma materKirklees College
Signature

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd (8 October 1929 – 26 February 2023), was a British politician who served as a member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000. A member of the Labour Party, she served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2000. She was previously a Deputy Speaker from 1987 to 1992.[2] She was the first and as of 2026, the only woman to serve as Speaker.[3] Boothroyd later sat in the House of Lords as, in accordance with tradition, a crossbench peer.[4]

Early life

[edit]

Boothroyd was born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in 1929,[5] as the only child of Ben Archibald Boothroyd (1886–1948) and his second wife Mary (née Butterfield, 1901–1982),[6][7] both textile workers.[7]

Boothroyd was educated at council schools and went on to study at Dewsbury College of Commerce and Art (now Kirklees College).[6] Boothroyd joined the Labour Party as a teenager.[8] She attended Labour League of Youth rallies in Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield to listen to speeches by Labour politicians Clement Attlee, Jennie Lee, Aneurin Bevan and Alice Bacon.[7]

Boothroyd's first job was at Bickers department store in Dewsbury.[5] From 1946 to 1952, she worked as a dancer, as a member of the Tiller Girls dancing troupe,[9] briefly appearing at the London Palladium in the West End. A foot infection brought an end to her dancing career and she entered politics, something then unusual, as the political world was heavily male-dominated and mostly aristocratic.[10]

During the mid-to-late 1950s, Boothroyd worked as secretary to Labour MPs Barbara Castle[11] and Geoffrey de Freitas.[12] In 1960, she travelled to the United States to see the Kennedy campaign. She subsequently worked in Washington, DC as a legislative assistant to American Congressman Silvio Conte, between 1960 and 1962. When she returned to London, she resumed her work as a secretary and political assistant to various senior Labour politicians including Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Harry Walston.[13] In 1965, she was elected to a seat on Hammersmith Borough Council, in Gibbs Green ward, where she remained until 1968.[14][15]

Member of Parliament

[edit]

Standing for the Labour Party, Boothroyd contested several seats – Leicester South East in 1957, Peterborough in 1959, Nelson and Colne in 1968, and Rossendale in 1970[7] – before being elected Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich in a by-election in May 1973.[14][16] She represented the constituency for 27 years and was succeeded by Adrian Bailey in 2000.[17]

In 1974, Boothroyd was appointed an assistant Government Whip.[18] In 1975, she became a Government-appointed member of the then European Common Assembly (ECSC) until she was discharged in 1977.[19][20][21][22] In 1979, she became a member of the Select committee on Foreign Affairs, until 1981, and of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen, until 1 January 2000.[23] She was a member of the Labour Party National Executive Committee (NEC) from 1981 to 1987,[23] and the House of Commons Commission from 1983 to 1987.[24]

Deputy Speaker and Speaker

[edit]

Election

[edit]
Boothroyd's Speaker's shoe in the Women's Library

Following the 1987 general election Boothroyd became a Deputy Speaker to the Speaker Bernard Weatherill. She was the second female Deputy Speaker in British history after Betty Harvie Anderson. In 1992 she was elected Speaker by a cross-party majority 372 to 238 votes, becoming the first woman to hold the position[25][26][27] and the first Opposition MP to be elected Speaker.[5][28] After her election, MPs broke with Commons protocol by standing and applauding her to her chair.[28]

There was debate about whether Boothroyd should wear the traditional Speaker's Wig. She chose not to but stated that any subsequent Speakers would be free to choose to wear the wig or not; none have since done so.[29] In answer to the debate as to how she should be addressed as Speaker, Boothroyd said: "Call me Madam".[30][8]

Career as Speaker

[edit]

In 1992, Boothroyd was named Parliamentarian of the Year.[8]

In July 1992, Boothroyd expelled Dennis Skinner from the Commons when he refused to withdraw remarks that John Gummer was a "wart" and a "little "squirt."[26] In July 1994, Boothroyd "forced" Rod Richards to apologise to her and the house for calling Peter Hain a "liar".[26] She also suspended Northern Ireland MP Ian Paisley for "un-Parliamentary language."[5]

In 1993, the Government won a vote on the Social Chapter of the Maastricht Treaty due to her casting vote (exercised in accordance with Speaker Denison's rule). It was subsequently discovered that Boothroyd's casting vote had not been required, as the votes had been miscounted, and the Government had won by one vote.[26][31][32]

Boothroyd was keen to get young people interested in politics, and in the 1990s appeared as a special guest on the BBC's Saturday morning children's programme Live & Kicking.[33] She featured on the BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs in 1993. Her favourite track was Rock-A-Bye by Judy Garland, her book was A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth and her luxury item was the Mace of the House of Commons.[34]

In March 1997, Boothroyd banned bleepers and electronic prompters from the Commons chamber.[26]

In May 1997, Boothroyd was re-elected as Speaker unopposed, polling a doubled majority of 15,423. She was nominated by Gwyeth Dunwoody.[26]

Boothroyd meeting Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Sirimavo Bandaranaike

Boothroyd represented the Commons internationally by speaking at Parliamentary lower houses, including the United States House of Representatives, the Russian Duma and the Indian Lok Sabha.[7] She met political leaders including President of South Africa Nelson Mandela and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Sirimavo Bandaranaike.[citation needed]

On 12 July 2000, following Prime Minister's Questions, Boothroyd announced to the House of Commons she would resign as Speaker after the summer recess. Tony Blair, then prime minister, paid tribute to her as "something of a national institution". Blair's predecessor, John Major, described her as an "outstanding Speaker".[35] She stepped down as Speaker and resigned as an MP on 23 October 2000.[36] In farewell speech she said: "Remember always that the privileges that this House enjoys were dearly won and must never be squandered."[37] She was succeeded by Michael Martin.

Her signature catchphrase in closing Prime Minister's Questions each week was "Time's up!"[3]

Alongside her political career, Boothroyd served as president of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) from 1996 to 2000.[38]

Life peerage and later activity

[edit]

Boothroyd was awarded an honorary Doctor of Civil Law (Hon DCL) degree by City University London in 1993. She was chancellor of the Open University from 1994 until October 2006 and donated some of her personal papers to the University's archives. In March 1995, she was awarded an honorary degree from The Open University as Doctor of the University (DUniv). In 1999 she was made an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh's College, Oxford.[39] Two portraits of Boothroyd have been part of the parliamentary art collection since 1994 and 1999, respectively.[40][41]

On 15 January 2001, she was created a life peer, taking as her title Baroness Boothroyd, of Sandwell in the County of West Midlands.[6][42] Her autobiography was published in the same year.[43][44] In April 2005, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Merit (OM), an honour in the personal gift of the Queen.[45][46]

Boothroyd was made an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Light and Lighting (Hon. FSLL) in 2009,[47][48] and she was an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh's College, Oxford, and of St Edmund's College, Cambridge.[49][dead link] She was Patron of the Jo Richardson Community School in Dagenham, East London, and President of NBFA Assisting the Elderly. She was, for a period, Vice President of the Industry and Parliament Trust.[citation needed]

In January 2011, Boothroyd posited that Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's plans for some members of the upper house to be directly elected could leave Britain in constitutional disarray: "It is wantonly destructive. It is destruction that has not been thought through properly." She was concerned that an elected Lords would rival the Commons, risking power-struggles between the two.[50]

In 2019, Boothroyd campaigned with People's Vote for a second referendum following the UK's Brexit vote to leave the European Union (EU) in 2016.[51]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Boothroyd neither married nor had children.[21][52] In 2000, she was awarded damages "over newspaper articles that suggested she had been the mistress of the late Lord Walston and had overseen disreputable weekend parties." The articles were written by William Cash for The Daily Express and The Spectator.[53]

Boothroyd took up paragliding while on holiday in Cyprus in her 60s. She described the hobby as both "lovely and peaceful" and "exhilarating".[54] In April 1995, whilst on holiday in Morocco, Boothroyd became trapped in the Atlas Mountains in the country's biggest storm in 20 years. Her vehicle was immobilised by a landslide; she and a group of hikers walked through mud and rubble for nine hours before they were rescued.[26][54]

She was the sitter in eleven portraits at the National Portrait Gallery.[55] A waxwork of her in full black and gold robes was unveiled at Madame Tussauds wax museum in 1998.[8][56][57]

Boothroyd died at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge on 26 February 2023, at the age of 93.[58][59] Her death was announced the following day by Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House.[3][60] After her death, Sandwell's flag at the Council House in Oldbury was lowered as mark of respect for Boothroyd.[61]

Boothroyd's funeral was held on 29 March at St George's Church, Thriplow, Cambridgeshire; she had lived in the village in her later years.[62][63] Hoyle; the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak; and Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer were among those in attendance,[64][22] and her close friend, actress Dame Patricia Routledge, sang.[65] A memorial service to Boothroyd was also held at St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey, on 16 January 2024, conducted by the Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle.[66]

Arms

[edit]
Coat of arms of Betty Boothroyd
Notes
Granted 8 October 1993 by Conrad Swan, Garter King of Arms.[67]
Coronet
A Coronet of a Baroness
Escutcheon
Gules, a representation of the mace of the Speaker of the House of Commons palewise Or surmounted in base by a rose Argent barbed and seeded Proper over all on a fess Gold an owl guardant Proper between two millrinds Sable.
Motto
I Speak To Serve[68][69]
Orders
Order of Merit since 2005.
Other elements
Atop the lozenge is a green forget-me-not bow or lovers' knot which indicates that she never married.
Symbolism
The mace is a symbol of Parliament, and thus represents Lady Boothroyd's role as Speaker of the House of Commons. The white rose represents Lady Boothroyd's home county of Yorkshire, while the owl represents her alma mater, Dewsbury Technical College. The millrinds refer to her constituency of West Bromwich because they symbolise the industrial revolution, which is a dominant part of that area's history. Her motto can be explained in her own words: I only speak when I've got something to say, and when I've something to say, I'm trying to serve my country, and to serve the philosophy that I cherish very much. The green bow atop of the crest (forget-me-not bow or lovers' knot) indicates that she has not been married.[70][71]

Honorary degrees

[edit]

Boothroyd received at least eight honorary degrees in recognition of her political career,[72] including:

Boothroyd was additionally made an Honorary Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge, in 1994.[78]

At her former school Kirklees College, a building was named the "Boothroyd Building" in her honour. It has since been sold and converted to flats.[79]

[edit]

In 2022, Boothroyd was featured as the inspiration for a production being planned by a fictional amateur musical theatre group, the Dewsbury Players, in the musical Betty! A Sort of Musical at the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester. The musical featured Maxine Peake as Boothroyd and a rap battle with Dennis Skinner.[80][81][82][83]

In 2023, Boothroyd was portrayed by Dorothy Atkinson in the television series Stonehouse.[84]

In 2024, the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend honoured Boothroyd by naming a flower "Madam Speaker."[85]

Publications

[edit]
  • Betty Boothroyd: The Autobiography. London: Century. 2001. ISBN 978-0-7126-7948-0.[44]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Journals of the House of Commons (PDF). Vol. 249. 1992–1993. p. 2.
  2. ↑ "Miss Betty Boothroyd". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Morris, Sophie (27 February 2023). "Baroness Boothroyd, first female Speaker of the House of Commons, has died aged 93". Sky News. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Boothroyd – MPs and Lords – UK Parliament". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Betty Boothroyd speaks her mind on politics, Yorkshire and making history". Yorkshire Post. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Debrett's Peerage Limited. 2011. p. 169. ISBN 978-1-870520-73-7.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Lobb, Adrian (27 February 2023). "Betty Boothroyd: From campaigning for JFK to becoming the first female speaker". Big Issue. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Profile: 'Call me Madam'". BBC News. 23 October 2000. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Betty Boothroyd: To Parliament and beyond". BBC. 24 October 2001. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
  10. ↑ "Betty Boothroyd Biography". Biography Online. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  11. ↑ "Baroness Boothroyd". UK Parliament Website. Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "Sir Victor Raikes Resigns Seat". The Times. No. 53994. 9 November 1957. p. 3. ISSN 0140-0460.
  13. ↑ Betty Boothroyd Autobiography Paperback – 3 Oct 2002 (synopsis). ASIN 0099427044 .
  14. 1 2 "Exhibition: Betty Boothroyd". Open University. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "London Borough Council Elections 7 May 1964" (PDF). London Datastore. London County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  16. ↑ Saari, Peggy; Gall, ‎Timothy L.; Gall, Susan B. (1997). Women's Chronology: A History of Women's Achievements. UXL. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-7876-0662-6.
  17. ↑ Ray, John (27 February 2023). "Betty Boothroyd: West Bromwich MP who replaced her remembers meeting through haze of cigarette smoke". ITV News. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  18. ↑ Wood, Alan H. (1987). Guide to the House of Commons. Times Books. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-7230-0298-7.
  19. ↑ "European Parliament (Membership) (Hansard, 1 July 1975)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 1 July 1975. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  20. ↑ "European Parliament (Membership) (Hansard, 1 March 1977)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 1 March 1977. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  21. 1 2 Langdon, Julia (27 February 2023). "Lady Boothroyd obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  22. 1 2 Mathers, Matt; Dalton, Jane (29 March 2023). "Sunak and Starmer pay tribute to Betty Boothroyd at funeral of first woman speaker". The Independent. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  23. 1 2 "Baroness Boothroyd". UK Parliament – MPs and Lords. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  24. ↑ Tominey, Camilla (27 February 2023). "Betty Boothroyd, first female Speaker, dies aged 93". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  25. ↑ Parkhouse, Sam (9 July 2001). Powerful Women: Dancing on the Glass Ceiling. Wiley. pp. 90–94. ISBN 978-0-471-49905-3.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Madam Speaker's career". BBC News. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  27. ↑ Waller, Robert (1996). The Almanac of British Politics. Croom Helm. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-415-11804-0.
  28. 1 2 "1992: Betty Boothroyd is new Speaker". BBC News. 27 April 1992. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  29. ↑ BBC Parliament coverage of the election of the Speaker of the House of Commons, 22 June 2009;
  30. ↑ MacLeod, Alexander (29 April 1992). "British Parliament's New Speaker Says 'Call Me Madam'". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  31. ↑ Gliniecki, Andrew (22 July 1993). "The Maastricht Debate: Former MP firm in casting vote: The Speaker:". The Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  32. ↑ Rentoul, John (4 April 2019). "The House of Commons is so divided on Brexit it has had its first tied vote for decades". The Independent. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  33. ↑ "Broadcast – BBC Programme Index". BBC. February 1997. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  34. ↑ "Desert Island Discs - Rt Hon Betty Boothroyd MP - BBC Sounds". BBC. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "Boothroyd praised as 'national institution'". BBC News. 12 July 2000. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  36. ↑ "No. 56014". The London Gazette. 31 October 2000. p. 12206.
  37. ↑ "Time's up! Boothroyd's farewell to the Commons". BBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  38. ↑ "Former CSP president Baroness Boothroyd was 'trailblazing'". The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  39. ↑ "The Rt Hon. Baroness Boothroyd OM". St Hugh's College, Oxford. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  40. ↑ Art in Parliament: The RT. Hon Betty Boothroyd Chosen Speaker In The Year 1992 Archived 6 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine; Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  41. ↑ "Artwork – Baroness Boothroyd". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  42. ↑ "No. 56095". The London Gazette. 19 January 2001. p. 719.
  43. ↑ "Betty Boothroyd: To Parliament and beyond". BBC World Service. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  44. 1 2 Rawnsley, Andrew (21 October 2001). "Good Queen Betty". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  45. ↑ "No. 57645". The London Gazette. 20 May 2005. p. 6631.
  46. ↑ Walker, Jonathan (21 May 2013). "Order of Merit for 'madam' Betty". Business Live. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  47. ↑ Newsletter 6, 15 October 2009, of the Society of Light and Lighting Archived 12 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
  48. ↑ "House Heroes". PoliticsHome.com. 23 November 2016. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  49. ↑ "Rt Hon Baroness Betty Boothroyd OM PC". St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  50. ↑ Kirkup, James (16 January 2011). "Betty Boothroyd attacks Nick Clegg's 'destructive' Lords reform". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  51. ↑ Chakelian, Anoosh (21 August 2019). "Betty Boothroyd: "Jeremy Corbyn won't be prime minister, dear. He ain't going to win"". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  52. ↑ "Betty: I refused three marriage proposals". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  53. ↑ "The Speaker receives press damages". BBC News. 22 March 2000. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  54. 1 2 McSmith, Andy (12 July 2000). "Superstar who ruled MPs with an iron rod and a ready wit". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  55. ↑ "Baroness Boothroyd". National Portrait Gallery.
  56. ↑ "Second Betty spells double trouble for MPs". BBC News. 18 June 1998. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  57. ↑ "In Pictures: Ground-breaking former Commons speaker Betty Boothroyd". The Independent. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  58. ↑ Tominey, Camilla (27 February 2023). "Betty Boothroyd, first female Speaker, dies aged 93". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  59. ↑ Burnett, Tom (27 February 2023). "Betty Boothroyd dies at Cambridge hospital at age of 93". Cambridgeshire Live. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  60. ↑ "Former Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd dies". BBC News. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  61. ↑ "Sandwell flag lowered as mark of respect for 'inspirational' Betty Boothroyd". Express and Star. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  62. ↑ Airey, Tom (29 March 2023). "Betty Boothroyd: Funeral held for first woman Commons Speaker". BBC News. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  63. ↑ Wingate, Sophie (29 March 2023). "Mourners gather for funeral of 'remarkable' Betty Boothroyd". The Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  64. ↑ "Prime Minister leads tributes to "remarkable" speaker Baroness Betty Boothroyd at funeral". ITV News. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  65. ↑ "Betty Boothroyd: Funeral held for first woman Commons Speaker". BBC News. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  66. ↑ "Baroness Boothroyd remembered at St Margaret's memorial service". Westminster Abbey. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  67. ↑ "Grant of Arms: Betty Boothroyd 1993". Stephen Plowman – Heraldry Online. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  68. ↑ Kidd, Charles; Shaw, Christine, eds. (2008). Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage (145 ed.). Debrett's. p. 150. ISBN 978-1-870520-80-5.
  69. ↑ "House of Commons Speaker's Residence". C-SPAN. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  70. ↑ "Lords fail to find house room for Lady Boothroyd's crest". The Daily Telegraph. 28 January 2001. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  71. ↑ "Baroness Boothroyd on her official portrait as Commons Speaker by Andrew Festing". 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via YouTube.
  72. ↑ "The Rt Hon. the Baroness Boothroyd OM". David Nott Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  73. ↑ "Honorary graduates chronological". City, University of London. Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  74. ↑ "Selected Honorands". University of Cambridge. 22 February 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  75. ↑ "Award list" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  76. ↑ "Honorary degrees". Times Higher Education. 21 July 1995. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  77. ↑ "Betty Boothroyd to be awarded honorary degree". University of St Andrews. 2003. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  78. ↑ "Honorary Fellows" (PDF). Newnham College, University of Cambridge. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  79. ↑ "Memories of Kirklees College as former site becomes new police HQ". Dewsbury Reporter. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  80. ↑ "Maxine Peake stages Betty Boothroyd's life in comedy musical: 'This is me letting rip'". BBC News. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  81. ↑ "Betty! A sort of musical". Royal Exchange Theatre. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  82. ↑ Timan, Joseph (10 December 2022). "Review: Betty! A Sort of Musical at Royal Exchange". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  83. ↑ Williams, Holly (9 December 2022). "A rap battle with Dennis Skinner and Ian Paisley in a tutu: this bonkers musical must be seen". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  84. ↑ Craig, David (5 January 2023). "Stonehouse cast | List of actors vs real-life counterparts". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  85. ↑ Burchell, Helen (15 March 2024). "Thriplow Daffodil Weekend honours Speaker Betty Boothroyd". BBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
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