Eleanor Laing
The Baroness Laing of Elderslie | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Chairman of Ways and Means Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons | |
| In office 8 January 2020 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Speaker | Sir Lindsay Hoyle |
| Preceded by | Sir Lindsay Hoyle |
| Succeeded by | Nus Ghani |
| First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons | |
| In office 16 October 2013 – 19 December 2019 | |
| Speaker | John Bercow Lindsay Hoyle |
| Preceded by | Nigel Evans |
| Succeeded by | Rosie Winterton |
| Shadow Minister for Justice | |
| In office 2 July 2007 – 11 May 2010 | |
| Leader | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Henry Bellingham |
| Succeeded by | Maria Eagle |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 19 May 2005 – 7 December 2005 | |
| Leader | Michael Howard |
| Preceded by | James Gray |
| Succeeded by | David Mundell |
| Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities | |
| In office 15 March 2004 – 2 July 2007 | |
| Leader | Michael Howard David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Caroline Spelman |
| Succeeded by | Theresa May |
| Shadow Minister for Children | |
| In office June 2003 – November 2003 | |
| Leader | Iain Duncan Smith |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Tim Loughton |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Life peerage 22 August 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Epping Forest | |
| In office 1 May 1997 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Steven Norris |
| Succeeded by | Neil Hudson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eleanor Fulton Pritchard 1 February 1958 Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland |
| Party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Alan Laing (div. 2002) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
Eleanor Fulton Laing, Baroness Laing of Elderslie, DBE, PC (née Pritchard; born 1 February 1958), is a British Conservative Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Epping Forest from 1997 to 2024. She served in the shadow cabinets of Michael Howard and David Cameron. From 2013 to 2024, Laing was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and was the first female Chairman of Ways and Means from 2020 to 2024. She had one of the longest tenures in the Speaker's chair. She became a member of the House of Lords in 2024.
Laing stood down from the House of Commons at the 2024 general election and was appointed to the House of Lords. Having served as an MP for 27 years, she is one of the longest-serving female MPs in British history.