Elizabeth Shields
British politician (born 1928)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elizabeth Lois Shields (née Teare; born 27 February 1928) is a British former politician.[1][2] Since the death of Sir Patrick Duffy in 2026, Shields has been Britain's oldest surviving former MP.[3]
Elizabeth Shields | |
|---|---|
Shields at the 1987 Liberal Party Assembly | |
| Member of Parliament for Ryedale | |
| In office 8 May 1986 – 11 June 1987 | |
| Preceded by | John Spence |
| Succeeded by | John Greenway |
| Majority | 4,940 |
| Member of Ryedale District Council | |
| In office 1980–2019 | |
| Ward | Norton Norton East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Elizabeth Lois Teare 27 February 1928 |
| Party | Liberal Democrats (since 1988) |
Other political affiliations | Liberal (before 1988) |
| Alma mater | University of York |
Biography
Shields studied at the University of York and became a teacher and lecturer. She served as a councillor on Ryedale District Council from 1980 to 2019 for Norton (later Norton East).[4][5]
Shields contested Howden in 1979 and Ryedale in 1983. Following the death of Ryedale's Conservative MP John Spence in 1986, Shields achieved victory in the Ryedale by-election of 1986, becoming the constituency's first Liberal MP, as part of the Alliance electoral pact between the Liberals and the Social Democrats. However, it was a short-lived success, as the Conservative John Greenway regained Ryedale at the 1987 general election.[6] Shields stood for Ryedale again in 1992, this time for the Liberal Democrats, who were the successors to the Liberal Party. The Conservatives, however, increased their majority.[7]
After previously serving as the Group Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the District Council, Shields lost her seat to the Conservatives in the 2019 local elections.[8] During 1989–1990 she held the office of Chairman of the District Council.
