Her parents seem to have separated soon after (or perhaps slightly before) her birth, as her father then married Helen Granger, his cousin.
[7] Roberts' political career began in 1929 when she successfully stood for the Kingston ward on the River Clyde.
In 1933 Labour gained control of Glasgow and she began being given various committee roles within the town council.
This critical period of tenure involved much slum clearance in the city and she famously toured the Gorbals district with Queen Elizabeth II in 1961, discussing redevelopment proposals and receiving much press coverage during this trip.
The Queen created her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 1962 Birthday Honours.