Betty Boothroyd

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 honor, and a passionate belief in the sovereignty of Parliament. This is a candid account of Betty Boothroyd’s life in politics, and she speaks frankly of the devastation of losing two elections, of campaigning 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. 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.