Tag: Eleanor Laing

  • Eleanor Laing – 2022 Statement on the Result of the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee Election

    Eleanor Laing – 2022 Statement on the Result of the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee Election

    The statement made by Eleanor Laing, the Madam Deputy Speaker, in the House of Commons on 2 November 2022.

    Members will have noticed that there is something else going on today, and that various Members have suddenly appeared in the Chamber. The reason is that I am now about to announce the result of the ballot held today for the election of a new Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee. I can announce that 436 votes were cast, four of which were invalid. The counting went to four rounds. There were 401 active votes in the final round, excluding those ballot papers whose preferences had been exhausted. The quota to be reached was therefore 201 votes. Steve Brine was elected Chair with 253 votes. He will take up his post immediately and I congratulate him on his election. I know that he is unavoidably detained elsewhere and cannot be in the Chamber at this moment. The results of the count under the alternative vote system will be made available as soon as possible in the Vote Office and published on the internet. We will now proceed.

  • Eleanor Laing – 2022 Tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth II

    Eleanor Laing – 2022 Tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth II

    The tribute give by Eleanor Laing, the Deputy Speaker and MP for Epping Forest, in the House of Commons on 9 September 2022.

    Before I call the next colleague, I would like to briefly give my own tribute on behalf of the people of Epping Forest, whose voice would otherwise be unheard. Her late Majesty was held so dear in all our hearts for her kindness, cleverness, dedication and grace. As a role model for women of future generations, she was unsurpassed. We have all been so fortunate to live and serve during her reign.

  • Eleanor Laing – 2019 Speech on 25th Anniversary of John Smith’s Death

    Below is the text of the speech made by Eleanor Laing, the Deputy Speaker, in the House of Commons on 9 May 2019.

    In commending the hon. Gentleman’s excellent speech, may I say for the sake of wider consumption and for those who pay attention to our proceedings here that the lack of hon. Members in the Chamber at this particular moment is absolutely no reflection on the way in which this debate is perceived by hon. Members in general?

    Listening to the hon. Gentleman, I had a tear in my eye. I remember very well exactly where I was when I heard the news about John Smith. I can confirm what the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter ​Ross (Jamie Stone) said about the Scottish Conservative party conference, which was immediately suspended on that day. Perhaps I am somewhat biased as a West of Scotland, Church of Scotland, Scots lawyer, albeit a Conservative, in my absolute respect and liking for John Smith. I had the opportunity to speak to him reasonably often, and I held him in the highest regard.

    What the hon. Member for Edinburgh South (Ian Murray) said about the lessons we can learn, 25 years on, from the way in which John Smith conducted his political life and political relationships is a very strong message indeed. I simply repeat that the fact there is not a very large number of Members here to reiterate that message does not mean it is not held in very great honour. The memory of John Smith in this place will go on and on.