Betty Boothroyd Autobiography

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The enormous respect and affection of the British public for Betty Boothroyd has its roots in a strong belief in what she stands for: fair play, an unshakeable sense of honour and a passionate belief in the sovereignty of Parliament. Her convictions, she said, are set in "Yorkshire Granite". Born into a working class family in Dewsbury in 1929, Betty Boothroyd was a popular girl who was, for a short time, a dancer with the celebrated Tiller girls. After winning a national speaking competition, Betty stood for election to the local council and became a full-time worker for the Labour Party. Nothing would separate her from politics again. This is a candid account of Betty Boothroyd's life in politics aand she speaks frankly of the devastation of losing two elections, of compaigning for JFK in America, and the elation she felt on finally becoming an MP in 1973. But her long political career reached its apogee in 1992 when she was appointed the first woman Speaker of the House of Commons with overwhelming support from both sides of the House. Her term of office coincided with John Major's attempts to defend his slim majority. Detailing many of the true stories behind the headlines, she writes of the sleaze scandals that beset the Major government, her feelings when Labour won their landslide election in 1997 and her strongly held views on the role of Parliament. Finally she tells why she decided to retire, her plans for the future and - in retrospect- what she feels about her decision to put public service above marriage.

Reviews

The first Speaker to become a political superstar - one of the most popular women in Britain * Mail on Sunday *
Betty Boothroyd is frank, fun and generous... an uncomplicated book by a straightforward lady * William Hague, Sunday Telegraph *
Betty Boothroyd came to transcend politics... her autobiography is of profound human interest * Times Literary Supplement *

Author Bio

Betty Boothroyd was born in 1929, the daughter of a Yorkshire textile worker and weaver. In the mid-50s, after a career as a dancer with the Tiller Girls Troupe, she turned to politics. In 1973, after several unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament, she was finally selected as Labour MP for Bromwich, and served as an MEP from 1975 to 1977. In 1987 she became one of three deputy speakers in the House of Commons. But she is best known for becoming the first woman Speaker of the House of Commons, a post she held from 1992 to 2000. She was a popular choice, admired for her firmness, good-humour, fairness and ability to deal with a rowdy and mostly male House of Commons. Her straightforward, no-nonsense approach made her something of a celebrity. In 2001 she became a Life Peer and took her seat in the House of Lords as Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell.