Betty Boothroyd: former Commons Speaker revealed she turned down three marriage proposals in her lifetime

The political world today is mourning the loss of former Speaker of the British House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd, who died at the age of 93. Boothroyd made British political history by becoming the first female Speaker of the House in 700 years when she won the 1992 Speaker of the British House of Commons election. Her death was announced by current Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle this morning, leading to tribute from politicians and commentators past and present.

Her historic rise in politics though was a road she happily travelled alone. Throughout her public career, her private life was also of interest as she was never married, nor did she have a partner or insinuate that she had a love life. However, that’s not to say that she did not have her suitors, as she revealed in an interview with the BBC programme Call Me Madam back in 2000.

Though tight-lipped about who the suitors were, to the point she wouldn’t even hint at any possible clues that would reveal who they are. However, she admitted that she had three proposals during her lifetime up to that point - though she was content being single.

Speaking about her romantic life, Boothroyd told the BBC documentary "I have had three different proposals of marriage over the years. But I’ve never been ready for it. I think there’s a time and a place and it was never the right period or the right place."

She explains that a lack of family life is the reason that she endured so long in British politics, claiming that "I doubt if I would have got where I did if I had married. I am not sure I could have had a home life and children and had a very big professional life as well. I was married to the House of Commons and it just absorbed me and took over my life.

"And I had a wonderful life as Speaker - I enjoyed every moment of it and I went, I know, at the right time."