MP: My shock over husband's affair

A woman Tory MP today spoke of her "complete shock" at discovering her husband of 18 years had been having an affair with a woman he met at work.

Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing spoke out after it was revealed that her computer consultant husband Alan had had a serious relationship with Jennifer Howard, who also works in computer software.

The 44-year-old shadow education minister said: "I was completely shocked to discover in January this year about my husband's affair.

"Alan has assured me that this affair is now over and we have been trying to resolve our difficulties." She denied reports that her marriage had been a front, saying: "To me, my marriage has not been a sham.

"We have been having difficulties and because my husband has a busy international career, which means that he travels a lot and, of course, my job takes up a great deal of time, including many evenings and weekends, we have inevitably spent periods of time apart.

"We are both concerned about the welfare of Matthew, our much wanted and loved son, who is now 10 months old, and hope that we can be allowed to pursue our private lives without further disruption." The MP, who has represented her Essex constituency since 1997 and lives in Theydon Bois, released the statement following allegations that her husband began seeing Miss Howard five years ago and lived with her in a Berkshire house they both owned until two weeks ago, when she asked him to leave.

Mrs Laing, a former lawyer who was educated in Scotland, married solicitor and computer company chief executive Alan in 1983, and Matthew, their first child, was born last summer.

A Sunday newspaper claimed that they "shamelessly posed as a family unit" while Mr Laing was living with his divorcee mistress 66 miles away in Sonning.