Jeff Smith (British politician)
Jeff Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Manchester Withington | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | John Leech |
| Majority | 27,905 (52.7%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 January 1963 Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester |
| Website | jeffsmith |
Jeff Smith (born 26 January 1963) is a British Labour Party politician from Manchester. He was elected at the 2015 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester Withington.[1] He had previously represented the Old Moat ward on Manchester City Council since 1997.
Early life and career
Smith was a pupil at the private Manchester Grammar School,[2] and graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in Politics and Economics in 1984.[3] Smith was a member of the University of Manchester Students' Union Executive 1984–85 as Entertainments Officer. He is a former Executive Member for Finance on Manchester City Council[4] and a former governor of Parrs Wood High School.[5]
He was chosen in June 2013 as the Labour candidate for Manchester Withington[6] ahead of Angela Rayner and fellow Manchester Councillor Andrew Simcock.[7]
Parliamentary career
At the general election in May 2015, Smith was elected MP for Manchester Withington on behalf of Labour, defeating the incumbent Liberal Democrat John Leech, with a majority of 14,873. Smith was re-elected in the 2017 snap general election, securing 71.7% of the vote and more than doubling his majority over next-placed John Leech to 29,875 (55.8%).
Smith is a senior Opposition whip.[8]
In July 2015, Smith voted to prevent the government's Welfare Bill going through on the second reading, and voted against it at the third reading.[9]
He supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour Party (UK) leadership election.[10]
Smith campaigned to remain in the European Union.[11] In January 2017, he voted against triggering Article 50.[12] On 14 March 2019, Smith voted to reject Theresa May's Brexit deal and a no-deal Brexit.[13]
He is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health[14] and sits on the advisory board of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute.[15]
Smith co-founded the Labour Campaign for Drug Policy Reform with Thangam Debbonaire[16] and is Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform.[17] On April 20th 2020, Smith appeared in a virtual online 4/20 event hosted by Voltfacehub, where he spoke in favour of the decriminalisation and regulation of the drug Cannabis.[18]
He is Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group.[19]
Personal life
Smith's Jewish great-grandmother, Rosa Simonson, came to Manchester in the 1880s to escape anti-Semitic persecution in what is now Poland.[20]
Before being elected, Smith was an event manager and DJ,[21] and has performed regularly at V Festival and club nights Poptastic in Manchester and Star in Leeds.[22]
References
- ^ "Manchester Withington Parliamentary constituency: Election 2015". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ^ Kelly, Richard (29 May 2015). "Pupil Plebiscites and Leftist Leanings: Political Participation and Manchester Grammar School, 1906–2015". Political Studies Association.
- ^ SMITH. "SMITH, Jeffrey". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (online ed.). A & C Black.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: Unknown parameter|othernames=ignored (help) (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) (subscription may be required or content may be available in libraries) - ^ "The Members of the Executive: The Executive Members in 2013 / 14". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014.
- ^ "The Governing Body". Manchester, UK: Parrs Wood High School. Archived from the original on 25 November 2014.
- ^ Wheatstone, Richard (10 June 2013). "Gloves are off as candidates set to do battle for Withington seat". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- ^ Crick, Michael (6 November 2013). "Unite choosing Labour's candidates: is Cameron correct?". Channel 4 News. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ "Labour makes new Whips Office appointments". LabourList. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ jeffsmithmp (23 July 2015). "Why we voted against the Welfare Bill – and why we abstained". Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Smith, Mikey; Bloom, Dan (20 July 2016). "Which MPs are nominating Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest?". Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ "EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand". BBC News. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Williams, Jennifer (26 January 2017). "Labour MP Jeff Smith risks being sacked as whip after refusing to back Brexit vote". men. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ correspondent, Peter Walker Political (14 March 2019). "What are the amendments to the article 50 extension vote and how did MPs vote?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "APPG on mental health". APPG on mental health. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "Advisory board". Money and Mental Health Policy Institute. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "Founders". Labour Campaign for Drug Policy Reform. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "All Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform". All Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/B_AZ3AwHED6/?igshid=1ilyceae6c880
- ^ "Crispin Blunt and Joan Bakewell elected as Chair and Co-Chair of humanists in Parliament". Humanists UK. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Holocaust Memorial Day - Hansard". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "About". 8 January 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Staff writer (19 April 2010). "Corridors of Power to Wheels of Steel". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2017.