In Parliament

Eleanor was elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in October 2013.

Before becoming Deputy Speaker, Eleanor was a member of the influential Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee and Chairman of the 1922 Home and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Always deeply involved in parliamentary reform, she was a member of the controversial Joint Committee on the House of Lords, the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission. She has also held a variety of opposition spokesman roles - as Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Shadow Minister for Equality, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Shadow Education Minister and Opposition Whip.

She was a regular contributor to House of Commons debates and you can see her speeches and debate interventions here. Since being elected Deputy Speaker, Eleanor can no longer take part in the debate but, of course, chairs debates on a daily basis.

| Click here for information on the role of Speaker and his deputies on the Parliament website.

Eleanor Laing elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons

17th October 2013

Eleanor Laing thanks MPs following her election as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.

Scottish Pensions

11th September 2013

Eleanor Laing raises her concerns about the ability of the Scottish economy to support pensions in an independent Scotland.

Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing calls on Prime Minister to bring forward EU Referendum

5th June 2013

Eleanor Laing has raised the issue of the EU Referendum during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons.

Eleanor Laing backs Queen’s Speech based on principles of freedom, choice and individual responsibility

14th May 2013

Speaking in the Cost of Living debate on the Queen’s Speech, Eleanor Laing backs measures to support people who work hard, look after their families and contribute to their communities.

Problems in Abu Qatada case exacerbated by human rights legislation, says MP

24th April 2013

Following the Home Secretary’s statement to the House of Commons on the case of Abu Qatada, Eleanor Laing says that the problems have been made more difficult by the human rights legislation passed by the previous Government.

Eleanor Laing welcomes special commemoration events to mark 200th anniversary of the birth of David Livingstone

24th April 2013

Eleanor Laing has welcomed an announcement that a programme of events is being planned to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of explorer and adventurer David Livingstone who had close ties with Ongar.

Eleanor Laing speaks in Parliamentary debate paying tribute to Baroness Thatcher

10th April 2013

Speaking during the special Parliamentary debate, Eleanor Laing pays tribute to the achievements of Baroness Thatcher.

An independent Scotland “would still be dependent on England, Wales and Northern Ireland” for defence, says Eleanor Laing

7th March 2013

Eleanor Laing criticises proposals to eject Trident from an independent Scotland and says that in reality a Scotland separate from the rest of the UK would still be dependent on England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the United States, France and the rest of NATO for its defence.

Eleanor Laing backs opening up Government procurement to small businesses

6th February 2013

Eleanor Laing asks the Government if there has been as assessment of why small businesses were winning such a small share of Government procurement contracts when it came to power three years ago.

Eleanor Laing amazed Government has, at last, accepted her amendment to allow voters queuing outside polling station to vote

29th January 2013

Eleanor Laing welcomes the Government’s backing for proposals she first put before the House in June last year which will allow voters in the queue outside a polling station at closing time to vote.

Eleanor on Twitter

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