NEW: Sad news- the former (and first woman) Speaker of the Commons, Baroness Betty Boothroyd has died at the age of 93.

Formerly the Labour MP for West Bromwich West. Working class girl who rose to the top. Admired and respected across the chamber. What a life.

If you want a fantastic listen and an insight into a truly great life, you could do a lot worse than her Desert Island Discs. What a voice- a not inconsiderable part of her success.
bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…

Lovely line from The Guardian's obituary of another great Labour woman Barbara Castle, on Boothroyd, saying the moral of the latter's career was: 'You never know what people are capable of until you give them the opportunity to show it.” theguardian.com/politics/2023/…