Eleanor Laing

Conservative MP Epping Forest

Date of birth

1 February 1958

Political profile

Eleanor Laing was elected to the Commons for the first time in 1997, but was already well known having served as special adviser to John McGregor in government for five years.

She had been an enthusiast for rail privatisation and, coming from Scotland, was a fervent opponent of devolution and of constitutional change more generally.

Ms Laing prospered under William Hague and enjoyed rapid advancement, serving as a whip and then as a spokesman on constitutional affairs.

A Eurosceptic, she backed first Michael Ancram and then Iain Duncan Smith for the Conservative leadership.

Iain Duncan Smith gave her an education portfolio, and then appointed her shadow secretary of state for children.

She currently serves as a shadow economic affairs minister, and is also shadow minister for women.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 4203