She was presented at court to George V as a debutante but later stated 'I was more interested in politics than parties' and grew up with strong Liberal ideals.

On 2 April 1934, Tennant married Walter Elliott, a doctor and Unionist Party MP who was at that time the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the National Government of Ramsay MacDonald.

Elliot then became involved in Conservative affairs, wrote speeches for, and campaigned in elections for, her husband, as well as promoting his enactment of the Milk Marketing Board.

On three occasions, in 1954, 1956 and 1957, she was a member of the UK delegation to the United Nations and in the absence of ministers during the Suez crisis in 1956, she made a speech denouncing the Soviet invasion of Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

At the State Opening of Parliament in November 1993, Elliot tripped over her parliamentary robes and fell as she left the House of Lords.

She was granted her own supporters, a black-faced ram Proper horned Gules, and a horse Argent, symbolising her love of rural life.