Jacqueline Anne Harkness Lait (born December 16, 1947) is an British politician and Conservative Member of Parliament for Beckenham.

Lait was born near Glasgow and attended Paisley Grammar School and the University of Strathclyde, where she received a bachelor's degree in business management. After gratuating, Lait worked in public relations for the jute industry in Dundee, later working for the television news agency Visnews. Lait joined the Government Information Service in the Scottish, Privy Council, and 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. Lait won the seat in a by-election in 1997 following the resignation of Piers Merchant, soon after she lost her previous seat, Hastings, in the 1997 general election. She had represented Hastings since 1992.

External links

• Official site (http://www.jacquilaitmp.com/)