Former Labour MP and speaker of the House of Commons Betty Boothroyd has died aged 93, according to Lindsay Hoyle.
The stalwart politician served as MP for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000 and as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2000.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the current speaker of the House of Commons, said: “Not only was Betty Boothroyd an inspiring woman, but she was also an inspirational politician, and someone I was proud to call my friend.
“To be the first woman Speaker was truly ground-breaking and Betty certainly broke that glass ceiling with panache.
“She was from Yorkshire, and I am from Lancashire – so there was always that friendly rivalry between us. But from my point of view, it was heartening to hear a Northern voice speaking from the Chair.
“She stuck by the rules, had a no-nonsense style, but any reprimands she did issue were done with good humour and charm.’Betty was one of a kind. A sharp, witty and formidable woman – and I will miss her.”
This breaking news story is being updated…