Ex-Speaker Betty is latest clamper victim

Oct 22 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE former Speaker of the House of Commons and a newly-widowed Mirfield politician’s wife have fallen victim to a notorious car-clamping company.

Baroness Betty Boothroyd – famous for talking no-nonsense when she was the first woman Speaker – took a trip to Bronte country in Haworth and was clamped by a company called Carstoppers.

She was with Mrs Jean Megahy, from Mirfield, widow of former Huddersfield Council Leader and Euro-MP Tom Megahy.

Mr Megahy died on October 5 and his funeral was only last week.

Carstoppers won the RAC Dick Turpin Award for the nation’s worst clamper in 2003.

Baroness Boothroyd, 78, took the trip with close friend Mrs Megahy on Saturday.

The women parked at the Changegate car park and left a ticket in Mrs Megahy’s vehicle, but returned to find the car clamped by a man employed by Carstoppers, which is contracted to operate there.