Jacqui Lait

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Jacqui Lait MP
Jacqui Lait
Member of Parliament
for Beckenham
Incumbent
Assumed office 
20 November 1997
Preceded by Piers Merchant
Majority 8,401 (17.2%)
Member of Parliament
for Hastings and Rye
In office
9 April 1992 – 1 May 1997
Preceded by Kenneth Warren
Succeeded by Michael Jabez Foster
Born 16 December 1947 (1947-12-16) (age 60)
Paisley, United Kingdom
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse Peter Jones
Alma mater University of Strathclyde
Website www.jacquilaitmp.co.uk

Jacqueline Anne "Jacqui" Lait (born Jacqueline Anne Harkness on 16 December 1947) is a British politician and Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Beckenham.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Lait was born in Paisley near Glasgow, and attended 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, Scotland, later working for the television news agency Visnews. Lait joined the Government Information Service in the Scottish Privy Council, and, later, the Department of Employment Offices in 1974. In 1980, Lait joined the Chemical Industries Association as their Parliamentary Adviser. She has also run her own Parliamentary Consultancy.

[edit] 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. 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, a position she held until 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.

[edit] Personal life

Lait is married to Peter Jones, Leader of East Sussex County Council.

[edit] External links

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 – present		 Incumbent


Persondata
NAME Lait, Jacqueline Anne
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Jacqui Lait (known as); Jacqueline Anne Harkness
SHORT DESCRIPTION Conservative Party MP for Hastings and Rye 1992–1997, for Beckenham since 1997
DATE OF BIRTH 16 December 1947
PLACE OF BIRTH Paisley, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH


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