Eleanor Laing

Eleanor Fulton Laing, née Pritchard, (born 1 February 1958, Paisley) is a British politician. She is Conservative Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, and was first elected in 1997. Currently she serves as Shadow Minister for Women.

Early life

She went to the independent St Columba's School in Kilmacolm, Inverclyde (former Renfrewshire). At the University of Edinburgh, she received a BA and LLB. She was the first female President of the Union. She worked as a solicitor in Edinburgh, and the City of London.

Parliamentary career

Laing contested Paisley North in the 1987 general election. When Laing was first elected to the Epping Forest seat in 1997, the seat had been made a marginal by the Labour landslide. In 2001 the seat returned to safe status with a 19.8% majority. In 2005, she increased that majority to 32%. She has an interest in education, transport, economic policy, constitution and devolution.

Private life

Laing has one son, born in June 2001. She married Alan Laing in 1983 and divorced in 2002.

Past and Present Positions

• 1999-2000 Opposition whip
• 2000-2001 Opposition spokesperson, constitutional affairs
• 2001-2003 Spokeswoman for education and skills
• 2003-2004 Opposition spokesman, home, constitutional and legal affairs
• 2005 Shadow secretary of state for Scotland
• 2004 Shadow minister for Women & Equality
• 2007- Shadow Junior Justice Minister

External links

• Eleanor Laing MP official site
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Eleanor Laing MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Eleanor Laing MP
• The Public Whip - Eleanor Laing MP voting record
• BBC News - Eleanor Laing profile 10 February, 2005

News items

• Becoming Shadow Scottish Secretary in 2005
• Sticking up for teenage mothers in 2004
• Abhorred at discrimination by academic fees between Scottish and English university students in 2000

Audio clips

• Discussing gender gap pay inequality in 2006 on The Westminster Hour
• Discussing Conservative conference in 2004 on Womans Hour

Donate to Wikimedia