Boothroyd's Farewell Criticizes PM Peerages, Urges Lords Reform in Final Speech
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Betty Boothroyd wanted to criticize prime ministers for giving too many peerages to friends and wealthy donors in her farewell speech in the House of Lords.
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She also opposed hereditary peers and called for reducing the size of the House of Lords as too large and unnecessarily expensive.
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Boothroyd urged all appointments to be approved by the Appointments Commission and granting the commission statutory powers.
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The final draft of the speech was approved last year before her death at age 93.
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Boothroyd reflected that politics had been her whole life, like "miners' coal dust" that can't be scrubbed away.