Elizabeth Shields

Who is Elizabeth Shields?

Elizabeth Lois Shields is a British politician.

Shields studied at the University of York and became a teacher and lecturer. She served as a councillor on Ryedale District Council from 1980 for Norton.

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. However, it was a short-lived success, as the Conservative John Greenway regained Ryedale at the 1987 general election.

Shields stood for Ryedale again in 1992, but the Conservatives increased their majority. As of December 2010 she remains a Ryedale councillor for the Liberal Democrats, and for many years served as the Group Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the District Council. During 1989/1990 she held the office of Chairman of the District Council. She is currently the local Party President of Thirsk and Malton Liberal Democrats.