Betty Boothroyd planned to criticise PMs for abusing patronage powers

Betty Boothroyd also wanted to call for appointments to the House of Lords to be subject to the agreement of the Appointments Commission. Photograph: Martin Argles/The Guardian

Betty Boothroyd wanted to use her valedictory speech in the House of Lords to criticise prime ministers for giving too many peerages to friends and those with “fat bank accounts” who had bankrolled the party in power.

The former speaker of the House of Commons planned her final speech, in which she also said there was no longer a place for hereditary peers, but was too ill to deliver it.