Female Speakers

Betty Boothroyd was the first woman to occupy the post of Speaker, but not the Speaker's chair.

The first women to occupy the Speaker's chair was the Conservative Betty Harvie Anderson, Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means between 1970 and 1973.

She first presided over Commons proceedings on the 2 July 1970.

Miss Boothroyd (Labour) became the second woman to sit in the Speaker's chair, first presiding on 9 July 1987 as Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means.

On 17 April 1992 she was elected as the first female Speaker of the House of Commons, a post she held for eight years.

Following her retirement from the Commons Miss Boothroyd now sits in the House of Lords as Baroness Boothroyd.