Jacqui Lait
| Jacqui Lait MP | |
|---|---|
| Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | |
|
In office 14 September 2001 – 10 November 2003 | |
| Leader | Iain Duncan Smith |
| Preceded by | George Robertson[a] |
| Succeeded by | Peter Duncan |
| Member of Parliament for Beckenham | |
|
In office 21 November 1997 – 12 April 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Piers Merchant |
| Succeeded by | Bob Stewart |
| Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye | |
|
In office 10 April 1992 – 18 May 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Kenneth Warren |
| Succeeded by | Michael Foster |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
16 December 1947 Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Peter Jones |
| Alma mater | University of Strathclyde |
| Website | http://www.jacquilaitmp.co.uk/ |
| a. ^ Office vacant from 2 May 1997 to 14 September 2001 | |
Jacqueline Anne Lait (née Harkness; born 16 December 1947) is a British Conservative Party politician and former member of parliament (MP) for the constituencies of Hastings and Rye (1992–1997) and Beckenham (1997–2010).
Early life
Lait was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, attending Paisley Grammar School and the University of Strathclyde, where she received a bachelor's degree in business management. After graduating, Lait worked in public relations for the jute industry in Dundee later working for the television news agency Visnews. Lait worked for the Government Information Service and later the Department of Employment in 1974. In 1980, Lait joined the Chemical Industries Association as parliamentary adviser. She has also run her own parliamentary consultancy.
Political career
Lait was a candidate for Strathclyde West for the 1984 European elections and the following year stood in the by-election for Tyne Bridge where she finished in third place behind David Clelland and Rod Kenyon. She was selected as the Conservative candidate for Hastings and Rye in April 1991.
Lait won the Hastings and Rye seat in the 1992 general election and in 1996 became the first female Conservative Whip. She lost her seat at the 1997 general election, following a dispute with local fishermen, but later in the same year was elected MP for Beckenham via a by-election after the resignation of Piers Merchant.
In September 2001, Lait was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland. The position had been vacant since 1997 as the Conservatives had no representation in Parliament from Scotland. Peter Duncan was elected to a Scottish constituency in the 2001 election and he took over as Shadow Scottish Secretary from Lait in 2003 when she became shadow Home Affairs Minister. A reshuffle after the 2005 general election saw her appointed as shadow Minister for London. Two years later, she was handed the additional duties of shadow Minister for Planning.
She over-claimed for the mortgage interest on her second home, and was told to pay back over £7,000.[1]
Lait stood down as an MP at the 2010 general election.[2]
Personal life
Lait is married to Peter Jones, leader of East Sussex County Council.
References
- ↑ "MPs' expenses: Jacqui Lait over-claimed on second home mortgage for three years". Daily Telegraph. 1 June 2009.
- ↑ "Expenses scandal MP to stand down". Bromley Times. 21 September 2009.
External links
- Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Jacqui Lait MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com – Jacqui Lait, MP
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Jacqui Lait
- The Public Whip Jacqui Lait, MP's voting record
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kenneth Warren |
Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye 1992–1997 |
Succeeded by Michael Jabez Foster |
| Preceded by Piers Merchant |
Member of Parliament for Beckenham 1997 – 2010 |
Succeeded by Bob Stewart |
| Preceded by Vacant from 1997–2001 George Robertson (1993–97) |
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland 2001–2003 |
Succeeded by Peter Duncan |