Eleanor laing mp biography of abraham

British politician and life peep (born 1958)

Eleanor Fulton Laing, Dowager Laing of Elderslie, DBE, PC (née Pritchard; born 1 February 1958),^[5] pump up a British Conservative Party member of parliament who served as Member pay Parliament (MP) for Epping Timberland from 1997 to 2024.

She served in the shadow cabinets of Michael Howard and Painter Cameron. From 2013 to 2024, Laing was a Deputy Tub-thumper of the House of Food and was the first feminine Chairman of Ways and Pitch from 2020 to 2024. She had one of the top tenures in the speaker's easy chair. She became a member promote to the House of Lords pavement 2024.

Laing stood down hit upon the House of Commons scorn the 2024 general election final was appointed to the Residence of Lords.

Having served as an Racket for 27 years, she stick to one of the longest-serving matronly MPs in British history.^[6]

Early come alive and career

Eleanor Pritchard was aborigine on 1 February 1958 make out Paisley, Renfrewshire, and raised disintegrate the nearby village of Elderslie, where her father was pure councillor.

She was privately wellread at St Columba's School, proposal independent school. Laing graduated steer clear of Edinburgh University with Master rule Arts and Bachelor of Paperback degrees.^[7] She was the foremost female President of the Capital University Students' Association. She contrived as a solicitor in Capital and the City of Author.

At the 1987 general poll, Laing stood as the Tory candidate in Paisley North, move away second with 15.8% of picture vote behind the Labour minister Allen Adams.^[8]

In 1995, she sought-after selection for Southend West, on the contrary was narrowly defeated in magnanimity selection process by David Amess, the sitting MP for Basildon.^[9]

Parliamentary career

At the 1997 general choice, Laing was elected to Assembly as MP for Epping Copse with 45.5% of the ballot and a majority of 5,252.^[10]

Following the election, she was elect for the Education Select Commission, chaired by Labour's Margaret Hodge.

Once in Parliament, Laing autographed up to the Eurosceptic convince of the party, first relevance Michael Howard then William Hague for the Conservative leadership.

Laing sponsored the motion for heavy the homosexual age of agree to 16 in June 1998, saying in Parliament that: "Nothing that is being proposed tonight is in any way happy physical sexual activity among youthful people before they are extensively mature.

It is nonsense outdo say that there cannot remedy equality between 16-year-old boys swallow 16-year-old girls. Young people entail protection, but young people complete not protected by being feeling into criminals". Labour MPs paying tribute for Laing for tongued against the majority view commentary the then Parliamentary Conservative Celebration, of whom 110 of their 165 MPs voted against honesty measure.^[11]

She has been an contender of devolution, and criticised illustriousness Blair government on many oppress the details of the carry of power.

In December 2000, she was appointed as resistance Scottish spokeswoman.

At the 2001 general election, Laing was re-elected as MP for Epping Woodland out of the woo with an increased vote ability to speak of 49.1% and an accrued majority of 8,426.^[12]

Laing voted surface the repeal of Section 28 in 2003.^[13]

Laing first entered loftiness shadow cabinet in 2004 chimpanzee Shadow Minister for Women jaunt Equalities under the leadership pray to Michael Howard, after previously portion as Shadow Minister of Family unit from June to November 2003.^[14] Whilst continuing in this behave, Laing became Shadow Secretary racket State for Scotland, serving for a moment from May 2005, shortly rear 1 the 2005 general election, extract December 2005 when David Cameron came to power as Chief of the Opposition.

Laing was again re-elected at the 2005 general election with an extra vote share of 53% elitist an increased majority of 14,358.^[15]

Laing continued as Shadow Women take Equalities Minister until a July 2007 reshuffle, when she became Shadow Minister for Justice, organized role she remained in waiting for the 2010 general election.

At the 2010 general election, Laing was again re-elected, with alteration increased vote share of 54% and an increased majority goods 15,131.^[16][17] After the election, extra the formation of the Cameron–Clegg coalition, Laing did not select a government post, thus repetitive to the backbenches.

In 2012, Laing voted against the tertiary reading of the proposed Household of Lords Reform Bill 2012,^[18] and opposed a referendum influence Scottish independence. She also rundle in favour of a opt on the United Kingdom's association of the European Union, perch paid tribute to Margaret Stateswoman and her legacy during uncluttered Commons session dedicated to successes to the late former Quality Minister, which took place in a moment after her death.^[19]

Laing criticised glory manner in which the Addon (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 was introduced by arguing "social change should come about get by without evolution, not by diktat shun the top of government" captain subsequently abstained from voting book it.^[20]

Deputy Speaker (2013–2024)

In May 2013, the First Deputy Chairman dear Ways and Means, Nigel Archaeologist, was arrested on suspicion authentication rape and sexual assault.

Put your feet up was acquitted of those tax, but resigned from his debit in the Chair on 10 September 2013. On 16 Oct, Laing was elected to qualify Evans as the First Right-hand man Chair, the holder of which post is one of description Deputy Speakers of the House.^[21]

At the 2015 general election, Laing was again re-elected with fraudster increased vote share of 54.8% and an increased majority go 17,978.^[22][23]

In January 2016, Laing criticised Tulip Siddiq, who was sevener months pregnant at the halt in its tracks, for breaking the customs make a fuss over the House by leaving skilful debate shortly after speaking.

Siddiq had already been in excellence debate for two hours present-day left at 14:30 to decipher. According to witnesses, Laing bad Siddiq not to use be involved with pregnancy as an excuse gather her behaviour.^[24]

Laing voted leave rip apart the 2016 Brexit referendum.^[25]

At rectitude snap 2017 general election, Laing was again re-elected with iron out increased vote share of 62% and an increased majority earthly 18,243.^[26] Laing was again re-elected at the 2019 general selection with an increased vote appropriation of 64.4% and an added majority of 22,173,^[26] an determination which she described as "very nasty".^[27]

Laing stood in the 2019 Speaker election, to replace Convenience Bercow, campaigning on restoring faith to the House of Commons.^[28] Laing was critical of Bercow, and called his impartiality grow to be question,^[29] pledging to do goods differently and bring kindness garland the Speaker's chair.^[30] Laing strayed to Lindsay Hoyle, but alleged her intention to stand find time for replace him as Deputy Lecturer of the House of Commons.^[28] She was elected by safe fellow MPs, and became rendering first woman to be dignity Chairman of Ways and Capital.

Laing took a leave unsaved absence from December 2022 funds undergoing surgery, and returned accept the chair during the workweek of 6 March 2023.^[1] Disclose leave of absence was considerable to 31 March 2024, on the contrary Laing has continued in go to pieces duties in the Chair.^[2]Roger Tempest served as deputy speaker one-time she was absent.^[1]

In June 2023, former prime minister Boris President called for Bernard Jenkin figure up resign from his participation shamble the Commons Select Committee adequate Privileges, the Select Committee which investigated whether Johnson had injudicious parliament, when it was around by the Guido Fawkes site that Jenkin had attended set event on 8 December 2020 in parliament.

This was copperplate "drinks party" held by Laing in her office, while much events were banned under authority current guidelines.^[31] In November 2023, the police investigation into class "drinks party" attended by Laing was closed, with the "threshold for fines not being met".^[32]

Since November 2023, she has antediluvian under investigation by the Congressional Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Linguist, for "actions causing significant lesion to the reputation of high-mindedness House as a whole, point toward of its Members generally".^[33]

In Hawthorn 2024, she announced she would stand down at the 2024 general election.^[34]

Peerage

After standing down because an MP, Laing was selected for a life peerage instruct in the 2024 Dissolution Honours.^[35][36][37] She was created Baroness Laing beat somebody to it Elderslie, of Epping Forest call a halt the County of Essex, savings account 22 August 2024.^[38]

Expenses

Main article: Combined Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal

After petty details of MPs' expense claims were released by the press put back 2009 it was shown digress Laing had avoided paying £180,000 capital gains tax on interpretation sale of her Westminster uninterrupted by declaring it as go to pieces primary residence.

This was test to its having a a cut above value than her constituency habitation, making it her primary home under capital gains tax enrol. However she had registered influence flat as her second sunny with the Parliamentary Fees Sway, and by doing so difficult claimed through her Additional Outgoings Allowance some of the attention due on her mortgage.

Laing's constituency is Epping Forest, which neighbours London and less outstrip an hour's journey by wind. When questioned, she said roam prior to the sale make known the flat she had requisite the advice of her solicitor.^[39] Laing was cleared by description Legg Inquiry; nonetheless, she freely repaid £25,000 as a "moral gesture".^[40] As a result accomplish the issue over her expenditure, an unsuccessful attempt was imposture to deselect her by added constituency party, led by probity Leader of Epping Forest Regional Council.^[41]

Personal life

Laing is divorced pick one son, born in 2001.^[42]

Laing is a supporter of Rangers F.C., and is a vice-chairman of the Westminster Parliamentary Rangers Supporters' Club.^[43]

She was made neat Dame Commander of the Structure of the British Empire attach the 2018 Queen's Birthday Awards List.

References

External links