Betty Boothroyd intended to use her farewell address in the House of Lords to condemn prime ministers for bestowing excessive peerages upon their acquaintances and individuals with significant financial resources who had financially supported the ruling party.
The ex-speaker of the House of Commons prepared her last address, during which she also expressed that there was no longer a role for inherited nobles, but was unable to give the speech due to illness.
Lady Boothroyd, who died last February, had agreed the final draft and her former secretary, Sir Nicholas Bevan, has now arranged for it to be published.
In a statement quoted by the Daily Telegraph, Boothroyd stated that past prime ministers have placed great value on their ability to appoint individuals to positions of power. However, in her opinion, this authority should be utilized with less generosity than it has been in recent times.
“Although it is reasonable for prime ministers to have the authority to make appointments after leaving their position, there should be restrictions in place to prevent them from selecting individuals solely based on personal relationships or financial contributions to their political party.”
The ex-Labour representative also stated that she no longer sees a purpose for members who hold their position solely due to their family background. She criticized the current size of the House of Lords, which has over 800 members, as being unreasonable.
“I believe that our current membership is excessive and hinders our ability to function effectively and efficiently, resulting in unnecessary expenses,” stated the speaker. She also proposed that the Appointments Commission must approve all appointments made to the House of Lords.
“The authority of the commission should not only be limited to providing suggestions, but it should also be established on a legal foundation,” she stated. “No one should be allowed to join this House if the Appointments Commission, with a legal mandate, has concerns about their qualifications.”
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Boothroyd’s last speech was revealed during her memorial at Westminster Abbey in the beginning of this month. According to Bevan, the final draft was finalized in 2022 and was published in the House magazine on Monday, a few months before Boothroyd passed away at 93 years old.
In May 1973, Boothroyd won the West Bromwich seat, making her the 27th woman to be elected to parliament. She later became the first female speaker of the House. Looking back on her political career, she stated: “For me, parliamentary politics has always been more than just a job; it has been my entire life. Like coal dust for miners, it cannot be easily removed from under one’s fingernails.”
Source: theguardian.com
