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MP Laing, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group

Frequent visitor of Gibraltar Conservative MP Elainor Laing

British Conservative MP Elainor Laing is the new chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group, a House of Commons spokesman announced Wednesday night. Mrs Laing is no stranger to the Rock as she attended the main National Day rally when it was organised in Casemates Square.

Other locally well known MP’s such as Andrew Rosindell, Simon Hughes and David Crausby have also been elected to the group.

A House of Commons statement said: “The All Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group met last week to elect officers to the group, who will serve for the duration of this Parliament. A well attended meeting saw the following elected to office: Chairman: Eleanor Laing MP (Con); Vice Chairman: David Crausby MP (Lab); Vice Chairman: Andrew Rosindell MP (Con); Vice Chairman: The Rt. Hon. Lord Kilclooney (UUP); Vice Chairman: Simon Hughes MP (Lib Dem); Secretary: Jim Dobbins MP (Lab) and Treasurer: Jack Lopresti MP (Con).

“Lindsay Hoyle MP and Mr Mike Penning MP both asked that they should not be considered for re-election as their Parliamentary responsibilities prevent them from joining the Group.

“Both Lindsay Hoyle and Mike Penning have served this Group for a considerable amount of time and the Group wishes publicly to acknowledge their contribution and thank them for their past and future support. The Group congratulated Lindsay Hoyle on his election as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and Mike Penning on his appointment as a Minister.

Albert Poggio, UK Representative for the Government of Gibraltar attended the meeting as a special guest. The Group greatly appreciated being brought up to date on recent events in Gibraltar by Mr. Poggio.

Eleanor Laing MP said: “I have been a longstanding and loyal supporter of Gibraltar. I have visited Gibraltar on many occasions and have attended several National Day celebrations. To be elected to the Chair of the Parliamentary Group is a great privilege and I look forward to visiting Gibraltar some time this year and meeting with the Chief Minister amongst others.

“The Group looks forward to inviting key Gibraltarians to their future meetings at Westminster and hopes that the Chief Minister will be their first guest in the near future”, concludes the statement.