All of us will be devastated by the news that Betty Boothroyd has passed away.
The respect and affection that people across our three towns held Betty in was a testament to her incredible record as a local MP.
As the first woman Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty was a trailblazer and her no messing about approach showed exactly how it should be done.
It's always been an immense source of pride but also very daunting to follow Betty as the Member of Parliament for West Bromwich West.
Her legacy will always be a source of inspiration for many, including me.
