Betty Boothroyd

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd, OM, PC, is a British politician and was the first female Speaker of the House of Commons.

She entered Parliament as the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich in a by-election in 1973. Boothroyd's career then flourished. In 1974 she was appointed an assistant Government Whip and she was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1975-1977.
She became a Deputy Speaker in 1987.

In 1992 she was elected Speaker, being the first woman ever to hold the position.  In 1993, the Social Chapter of the Maastricht Treaty was defeated on her casting vote.

Boothroyd stepped down in 2000, and resigned as an MP, being succeeded by Michael Martin as Speaker.