Quick Facts
Biography
Lesley Margaret Laird (born 15 November 1958) is a Scottish politician, and the Labour MP for Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath. Laird's narrowly defeated the previous MP, Roger Mullin of the SNP by 259 votes.
A councillor since 2012, Laird is the former deputy leader of Fife Council, where she also held the administration portfolio for economy and planning.
Early life and career
Born in Greenock and educated at James Watt College, Caledonian University and then Edinburgh Napier University, Laird was formerly employed in senior human resources posts in the electronic, semiconductor and financial service industries prior to election.
Laird was first selected by her constituency Labour Party to contend the 2012 local government elections, and was returned alongside her Scottish Labour running mate.
Laird was appointed spokesperson for economy and planning in February 2013 and one year later was elected by her fellow Labour councillors to the post of deputy leader.
Laird sought selection for the Scottish Labour regional list for the Mid Scotland and Fife region.
Parliamentary career
For the 2017 snap general election, Laird was selected to stand as the Scottish Labour candidate for the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency; once held by former Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.
Laird overturned the SNP incumbent's majority of 10,000 votes to become the constituency's Member of Parliament (MP), receiving 36.8% of the vote.
Laird was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland less than a week later on 14 June 2017.