Edinburgh Law School graduate, Eleanor Laing MP, elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons
Thu 24 October 2013
Eleanor Laing MP was elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons on Wednesday 16 October. A graduate of Edinburgh Law School, Ms Laing has been appointed as one of three deputy speakers who will have the right to fill in for current Speaker of the House, John Bercow.
Since 1997, Ms Laing has been MP for Epping Forrest, and held various parliamentary positions including Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Shadow Minster for Equality, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Shadow Education Minister and Opposition Whip.
Ms Laing graduated from the LLB in 1982. During her time at Edinburgh University she was very involved in the Student Union, eventually being elected its first female president. She subsequently worked as a solicitor in Edinburgh and the City before embarking on her parliamentary career.