The newly-elected Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons has promised to continue to fight for Epping Forest.

MP Eleanor Laing, who was elected to work under John Bercow, last week, has told the Guardian that she will not neglect her constituency.

She said: “I understand why people living in Epping Forest might have concerns about my new role as Deputy Speaker because I don’t speak in parliament now.

“I want to reassure everyone that this does not mean that I will have any less effect.

“There are many other ways of local raising issues and the most obvious one is speaking directly to ministers.

“I have always said that I will make my voice heard and I will make my opinions known in a different way now.”

Mrs Laing says that she does not have any less time for Epping Forest now that she is Deputy Speaker as she is prevented from sitting on government committees, which she previously devoted time to.

She says that she will continue to fight for her seat and is currently working on a number of projects in the district.

She said: “Most of the work that I do to help people in the constituency is about private matters.

“What I do for them is write to the government agencies.”

“One of the areas I think is really important is sixth form provision in local schools. I would like to see sixth form provision at Roding Valley, St John’s and King Harold.”

According to website ‘They Work for You’ Mrs Laing has received answers to 13 written questions in the last year.

She has spoken in 26 debates and voted in 76 percent of votes.