Eleanor Laing

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Eleanor Laing MP
Shadow Junior Justice Minister
In office 2007 – present
Constituency	Epping Forest
Majority	14,358 (32.0%)
Born	1 February 1958 (1958-02-01) (age 50) Paisley, Scotland
Political party	Conservative

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.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Parliamentary career 3 Private life 3.1 Past and Present Positions 4 External links 4.1 News items 4.2 Audio clips

[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.

[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] 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

[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 Womans Hour
• Discussing women in Westminister in 2007 on Women's Parliamentary Radio

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Steven Norris	Member of Parliament for Epping Forest 1997 – present	Incumbent