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EPPING FOREST: MP Laing wins confidence vote

10:40pm Monday 26th October 2009


EPPING Forest MP Eleanor Laing has won a vote of confidence of Conservative Party members in the district, despite a storm of criticism over her expenses.

The outcome of this evening's vote, from which press and public were barred, means Ms Laing will remain Tory candidate for the Epping Forest seat at the next election.

Mrs Laing won by 83 per cent, with an audience of "around 200" people, according to sources at the meeting.

Mrs Laing told the Guardian she was overjoyed by the result.

She said: "I'm delighted by the overwhelming support of the majority of party members.

"I'm humbled by the support that all these really good people have shown in me that they bothered to come to the meeting tonight."

Mrs Laing admitted she had faced criticism at the meeting, but said the majority of speakers were in support of her.

She added: "We had a stirring discussion of all aspects of it.

"But at the end of the meeting even those who spoke against me came to shake my hand."

Mrs Laing said she hoped the verdict would "draw a line" under controversy surrounding her expenses.

She said: "It's the end of it now.

"We have a serious fight on our hands now against Labour and the Lib Dems at the next election and that's what we as a party need to focus on now."

Mrs Laing added that she would have a "small glass of wine" to celebrate.

But tonight's vote came following a petition signed by 50 party members, including Epping Forest District Council's Conservative leader Cllr Di Collins.

It is not known if those party members will now come out to publicly back her.

Mrs Laing, who has held the Epping Forest seat for 12 years, has come under heavy criticism over her expenses, which saw her avoid £180,000 in capital gains tax by telling Parliament a Westminister flat was her second home, while telling the Inland Revenue it was her main home.

She previously indicated that she would not stand as Tory candidate for the seat at the next election if she lost the vote of confidence.

Mrs Laing recently paid back £25,000 to the taxpayer as a "moral gesture" and insists she has always acted within the rules and not done anything wrong.

Parliamentary auditor Sir Thomas Legg has said she did not need to repay any money, but elements within her own party have been pushing for a new Conservative candidate.

Mrs Laing said before tonight's crucial vote that she wanted to remain MP for the district "for many years to come."


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Your Say Your Guardian

Campanologist Cycling Epping, Epping says...
10:26am Mon 26 Oct 09

I hope she falls on her sword and steps down after paying the Capital Gains Tax she owes. She has done hardly anything towards improving cycle lanes in Epping and this money could technically go towards these ends.

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Debdenite, Debden, Loughton says...
10:33am Mon 26 Oct 09

She'll probably lawyer her way out of this sticky situation, but such tactics won't work with the electorate. It's a shame that she won't answer constituents' correspondence on this issue or hold a public meeting and instead gets hauled unwillingly to a meeting of a few Conservative party members. At least some elected representatives, such as Di Collins, know the level of outrage within the community. If she is reselected, many of those voters who want to vote Conservative won't be able to and will instead vote Liberal or UKIP.

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larry g, chigwell says...
12:05pm Mon 26 Oct 09

Campanologist Cycling Epping wrote:
I hope she falls on her sword and steps down after paying the Capital Gains Tax she owes. She has done hardly anything towards improving cycle lanes in Epping and this money could technically go towards these ends.
im hoping that your saddle gets stuck, and needs to be surgically removed ........

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Morris Hickey, Redbridge says...
1:27pm Mon 26 Oct 09

larry g wrote:
Campanologist Cycling Epping wrote: I hope she falls on her sword and steps down after paying the Capital Gains Tax she owes. She has done hardly anything towards improving cycle lanes in Epping and this money could technically go towards these ends.
im hoping that your saddle gets stuck, and needs to be surgically removed ........
Ouch - painful!!

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Morris Hickey, Redbridge says...
10:16pm Mon 26 Oct 09

Money-grabbing ****. I hope the tax people get the rest of their money out of her.

Tough luck, Mrs Collins - just keep at it.

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Techno2, Walthamstow says...
10:52pm Mon 26 Oct 09

And just remember folks, don't try this yourselves. Pay your taxes or you'll go to prison...

..And don't worry your pretty little heads about how much your MP wastes or trousers. She has plenty of dodgy pals in her party willing to back her up.

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Debdenite, Debden, Loughton says...
10:56pm Mon 26 Oct 09

I'm not going to vote for that one come the election. It's a shame for Di Collins and other councillors who did the right thing, but obviously the sheeple in their party were convinced by the lawyer-politician. It's a disgusting result, all the more for the fact that she refuses to communicate with her constituents on this matter. She may have drawn a line under it, but most other people will not. The expenses row is about corruption and she's been one of the worst. Forget party politics, she needs to go.

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Morris Hickey, Redbridge says...
10:57pm Mon 26 Oct 09

Techno2 wrote:
And just remember folks, don't try this yourselves. Pay your taxes or you'll go to prison... ..And don't worry your pretty little heads about how much your MP wastes or trousers. She has plenty of dodgy pals in her party willing to back her up.
Are you saying that Hazel Blears, Jacqui Smith, and Elliott Morley are members of the same party as Laing?

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Techno2, Walthamstow says...
11:31pm Mon 26 Oct 09

Morris Hickey wrote:
Techno2 wrote: And just remember folks, don't try this yourselves. Pay your taxes or you'll go to prison... ..And don't worry your pretty little heads about how much your MP wastes or trousers. She has plenty of dodgy pals in her party willing to back her up.
Are you saying that Hazel Blears, Jacqui Smith, and Elliott Morley are members of the same party as Laing?
They are in their own dodgy party of immoral troughers on the make playing an old pals act at the taxpayers' expense.


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Morris Hickey, Redbridge says...
11:38pm Mon 26 Oct 09

Techno2 wrote:
Morris Hickey wrote:
Techno2 wrote: And just remember folks, don't try this yourselves. Pay your taxes or you'll go to prison... ..And don't worry your pretty little heads about how much your MP wastes or trousers. She has plenty of dodgy pals in her party willing to back her up.
Are you saying that Hazel Blears, Jacqui Smith, and Elliott Morley are members of the same party as Laing?
They are in their own dodgy party of immoral troughers on the make playing an old pals act at the taxpayers' expense.
Just p***ing in the same pot.

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mdj, e10 says...
12:53am Tue 27 Oct 09

This makes you wonder what sort of behaviour it WOULD take to get deselected; do the Tories think keeping her is their best chance of reelection, that she is the best possible candidate they could put up? What sort of message do they think that sends?

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ConcernedofLoughton, Epping Forest says...
6:59am Tue 27 Oct 09

Firstly she wont get ousted by her party because they want as many women in government as possible despite the fact that she hasnt called a public meeting to discuss the expenses which was ordered by David Cameron.

Second, she is 'of rank' in the shadow government so getting rid of her will cause more negative news than a regular MP.

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UKIP-local, Epping says...
8:19am Tue 27 Oct 09

I did not hear about this until after 10pm when travelling home by tube. Although I had been at work in the City all day I found time also to attend a political meeting in the evening.

You see, Mrs Laing, it is possible to live in Epping Forest, work in London and travel by tube.

We should all take heart as 17% of 200 Conservatives have shown they have morals and all of them and others are welcome in my party if they will support our aims as so many already tell me they do.

An unnecessary cost to the tax payer has arisen because Mrs Laing has caused Parliament to pay over £9,000 per annum to her local Conservative Association for the use of their offices. This is said to be necessary so she can meet constituents despite her owning a substantial, unused, detached house in Theydon Bois.

As probable UKIP candidate I remain willing to serve the people of Epping Forest as an MP without charging any accommodation costs and I would travel on the Central Line whenever feasible.

My professional job is to ensure regulatory compliance, not to evade the rules, but even so I think I would make a good MP.

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Dave26, Loughton says...
8:46am Tue 27 Oct 09

The local Conservative party seem to have a death wish. Well, let's not disappoint them at the forthcoming general election. There are still (£)155,000 reasons not to vote for Laing.

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inézc, Epping says...
9:41am Tue 27 Oct 09

Bad news but not unexpected unfortunately - she's obviously wormed (no, I WON'T say lawyered!Not all of us are the same - I find it grossly insulting to be tarred with the same brush as Mrs Laing!) her way out of it - again. All I hope is that the majority of the constituents won't have such short memories and will make their views on this appalling woman's conduct clear at the forthcoming election.

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JCook, Loughton says...
10:45am Tue 27 Oct 09

How can the Tory Party members be so stupid?? She's a crock! I'll stop paying my taxes and start fiddling my expenses because that is now prefectly ok according the Tories. I can only hope that that the voters have seem the light and she receives 0 votes in the next election. Sadly even if she is booted out her snout is so deeply in the trough so she's never be short of money. Disgraceful.

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franky16, Loughton says...
10:47am Tue 27 Oct 09

What a sad outcome, what were the 83% thinking about?
Why oh why can we not have a good local MP who actually knows our District not some money grabbing person who is only standing in Epping Forest because she wants to be an MP. We need an MP who wants to do good for the district first and be an MP second. I propose John Knapman now he would make a difference. I will be voting UKIP whilst E. Laing is MP.
Peter McMillan
(former District Councillor)

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Uncle Albert, Loughton says...
10:50am Tue 27 Oct 09

"It's the end of it now" - Mrs Laing I truly hope not. When people come to vote at the next election they have an opportunity to reflect on your conduct when making their choice. I am sure they will be constantly reminded of it during the campaign.

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Debdenite, Debden, Loughton says...
10:56am Tue 27 Oct 09

JCook wrote:
How can the Tory Party members be so stupid?? She's a crock! I'll stop paying my taxes and start fiddling my expenses because that is now prefectly ok according the Tories. I can only hope that that the voters have seem the light and she receives 0 votes in the next election. Sadly even if she is booted out her snout is so deeply in the trough so she's never be short of money. Disgraceful.
I totally agree. If Laing can fiddle her expenses and avoid huge amounts of tax and still be vindicated by the establishment and her party, then I feel no compulsion to be honest in my self-assessment - or in any declaration to the Conservative-run district council. While politicians can get away with this while continuing to raise our taxes and put us under increased state surveillance to enforce every petty law, I feel absolutely no obligation to be truthful to the government.

I am absolutely furious that such immoral conduct can be condoned and supported by the local establishment. I feel sorry for Di Collins as she had the decency to stand up for what's right, but she's now doomed.

As for UKIP-local, it would be helpful to know who you are. I'm not convinced that UKIP has a hope of winning this seat. The priority is to get Laing out. Labour has gone down the tubes locally and there's no way I'd vote BNP. So, for the first time, I'll probably vote for the Liberals.

We really need election hustings so that people can confront all the candidates. And if Laing continues to refuse to attend a public debate where her expenses can be raised, then she can be represented by an empty chair!

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SN3, says...
1:08pm Tue 27 Oct 09

Epping Forest Greens say she should go, and indeed if she won't she will lose the Tory party many votes.

She is now badly wounded politically


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inézc, Epping says...
1:38pm Tue 27 Oct 09

She should have had some dignity and fallen on her sword, but no, she's denied any wrongdoing throughout. I am greatly heartened by the fact that out of a meeting of c200 she was supported by 83% - not a huge amount of people all told. It would be a happy coicidence if those were the only people who voted for her, but I just have a feeling that she's going to worm her way back in come Election Time and people will forget. Personally I will not forget this and I will also remind as many people as possible of it. We deserve better than this.

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Epping Boy, Epping says...
2:50pm Tue 27 Oct 09

How strange. that doesn't look like the outfit eleanor laing was wearing last night, oh, that's right. that's because the guardian didn't even bother sending a reporter or photographer. shameful, especially after reporting that this is one of the biggest issues in the district.

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Techno2, Walthamstow says...
11:05am Wed 28 Oct 09

Epping Boy wrote:
How strange. that doesn't look like the outfit eleanor laing was wearing last night, oh, that's right. that's because the guardian didn't even bother sending a reporter or photographer. shameful, especially after reporting that this is one of the biggest issues in the district.
I don't blame them for staying away from such a grubby crowd.

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Dave26, Loughton says...
1:20pm Wed 28 Oct 09

Whoever was shaking Laing's hand in the photo above, I hope they checked pockets afterwards!

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Skypeal, Woodford says...
3:36pm Wed 28 Oct 09

I thought Leslie Crowther kicked the bucket ages ago?

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The guv, chingford says...
4:33pm Wed 28 Oct 09

Laing looks well boozed up in that picture.

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Debdenite, Debden, Loughton says...
4:41pm Wed 28 Oct 09

"Mrs Laing added that she would have a "small glass of wine" to celebrate."

A Glaswegian euphemism for getting bladdered, albeit Anglicised from a "wee dram of whisky". Wouldn't you be boozing if you got your party's approval for using public money to make a million quid from property speculation and then avoid tax on it?!

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EPPING FOREST: Crunch time for MP Laing Eleanor Laing has won a vote in confidence


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