
First Woman Speaker in the House of Commons
Miss Betty Boothroyd, 62, was elected to the Speaker of the House by a vote of 372-238 on April 28. She has broken a 700-year tradition by becoming the first woman speaker. She was deputy speaker in the last Parliament in West Minister. She has also broken another record by being elected Speaker from the opposition benches since World War II.
The traditional uniform of full wig, black robes, breeches, and tight stockings of the Speaker since 1258 will be abandoned here. She said, “I won’t be comfortable in what I wear and I don’t think‘ll be comfortable in a wig,” she added, “I can’t deny my sex, and therefore I will be wearing a skirt.” she is one of the 60 women legislators in a house of 651. People’s Review, May 4 1992.
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