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Elected as Labour MP for Blackburn in July 1945, Barbara Castle’s career contains quite a few milestones that now feel like part of everyday life. As transport minister she oversaw the introduction of the permanent national speed limit, she introduced the breathalyser and legislated for compulsory seat belts. But she’s probably best remembered for her monumental contribution to equality in the workplace. It was in 1970, during her time as Employment secretary that she successfully brought in the Equal Pay Act, which made it law for a woman to be paid the same as a man. In this clip from the Labour conference a year earlier, we hear her passionate argument for this important piece of legislation.