Madam Speaker: The life of Betty Boothroyd

This biography traces Betty Boothroyd's humble beginnings as the only child of an impoverished textile-working couple in the Pennine town of Dewsbury, where she formed a desire "to change society". It follows her early adventurous career as a dancer, and then her path through the political foothills - first working for the Labour Party as a secretary to MPs, including Barbara Castle. The book chronicles her attempts to win a seat in Parliament, and her final success in a by-election at West Bromwich. It tells the story of her fight to become recognized in the man's world of Westminster, her role as "hammer of the Left" on the party's national executive and her triumph in becoming the first Labour woman Deputy Speaker. It also tells the inside story of winning the Speakership, the result of an all-party campaign led by John Biffen MP. Finally, her record as Speaker is assessed. Paul Routledge is the author of "Scargill".