Eleanor Laing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Eleanor Laing MP
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Shadow Junior Justice Minister
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2007 |
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| Leader | David Cameron |
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Member of Parliament
for Epping Forest |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 May 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Steven Norris |
| Majority | 14,358 (32.0%) |
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| Born | 1 February 1958 Paisley, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Alan Laing (div. 2002) |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
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 Junior Justice Minister.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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. In 2008 she was one of 172 MPs who voted to preserve what critics call a lax and over-generous system of Parliamentary expenses which permit Members of Parliament to claim for expenses without producing receipts.
[edit] MPs' Expenses Scandal
After details of MP's expense claims were released in the press, it was shown that Laing had avoided paying £180,000 Capital gains tax on the sale of her Westminster flat by declaring it as her primary residence. However, she had registered the flat as her second home with the Parliamentary Fees Office, and by doing so had claimed through her Additional Costs Allowance some of the interest due on her mortgage. Her constituency is Epping Forest, which is close to London and less than an hour's journey by tube. When questioned she said that prior to the sale of the flat she had sought the advice of her solicitor[1].
[edit] Private life
Laing has one son, born in June 2001. She married Alan Laing in 1983 and divorced in 2002.
[edit] 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
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- [1] Telegraph expose (30 May, 2009)
- Eleanor Laing MP official site
- Profile at Conservative Party website]
- 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
[edit] 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
[edit] Audio clips
- Discussing gender gap pay inequality in 2006 on The Westminster Hour
- Discussing Conservative conference in 2004 on Woman's Hour
- Discussing women in Westminister in 2007 on Women's Parliamentary Radio
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by Steven Norris |
Member of Parliament for Epping Forest 1997 – present |
Incumbent |
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| Preceded by James Gray |
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland May 2005–December 2005 |
Succeeded by David Mundell |
