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Angela Smith (South Yorkshire politician)

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This article is about the current MP for Penistone and Stockbridge. For the former MP for Basildon, see Angela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon. For other uses, see Angela Smith (disambiguation).

Angela Smith
MP
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
In office
7 October 2011 – 15 April 2014
LeaderEd Miliband
Preceded byHelen Jones
Succeeded byThomas Docherty
Member of Parliament
for Penistone and Stocksbridge
Sheffield Hillsborough (2005–2010)
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 May 2005
Preceded byHelen Jackson
Majority1,322 (2.6%)
Personal details
Born (1961-08-16) 16 August 1961 (age 63)
Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England
Political partyLabour
SpouseSteven Wilson[1]
Children1 stepdaughter
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham
OccupationEnglish lecturer—Dearne Valley College
ProfessionEnglish Lecturer
Websitewww.angelasmith-mp.org.uk

Angela Christine Smith (born 16 August 1961) is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sheffield Hillsborough from 2005 to 2010, when she was first elected to represent the new constituency of Penistone and Stocksbridge.

Early life and career before parliament

Smith grew up in Grimsby, where her grandfather had been the Mayor.[2] She attended Waltham Leas Primary School, now The Leas Junior School in Waltham and Tollbar Secondary School, in New Waltham, Lincolnshire.

She joined the Labour Party at the age of 16 and worked for the NHS for five years, before taking A levels on an evening course. She studied English at the University of Nottingham in September 1987.

She began a PhD at Newnham College, Cambridge and was an English lecturer at Dearne Valley College in Wath upon Dearne from 1994 until 2003.

She was a councillor on Sheffield City Council for 8 years for the Birley and Broomhill wards.[2]

Parliamentary career

At the 2005 general election Smith was elected Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hillsborough.[3] In 2007 she was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary and chief aide to Yvette Cooper.

During her tenure Smith worked to reinstate the former Woodhead Line between Hadfield and Penistone.[4] Smith is one of 71 MPs who have signed a petition to re-open the trans-Pennine route and she has on more than one occasion headed debates in Westminster on the need for more railway investment in the north. She is one of 98 MPs who voted to attempt to keep their expense details secret on the basis of Member Constituent confidentiality, and in order to protect the private addresses of MP's being readily available to the public.[5]

In July 2009, she introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill to the House of Commons which if accepted by government would change the law to give people more legal protection against attacks by dogs. She worked with the RSPCA and the Communication Workers Union on the issue.[6]

The Sheffield Hillsborough seat was abolished at the 2010 election, but Smith was elected as the MP for the newly created Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency.

After a period as opposition Whip, Smith was promoted to the front bench as the Shadow Deputy Leader of the House in October 2010.[7]

Smith was voted Constituency MP of the year 2011–12, voted for by fellow MPs, honouring her campaign against the axing of an £80 million loan to Sheffield Forgemasters. She followed this up by being awarded the League Against Cruel Sports' Parliamentarian of the Year in 2013 for her efforts against the trial badger cull, in which she worked with campaigner Brian May, as well as recognition for her wider campaign in protecting animals from cruelty.[8] She also became a vice-president of the League Against Cruel Sports.[9] Since February 2016, Smith has also served as a member of the Advisory Board at Polar Research and Policy Initiative.[10]

In 2016 Smith backed a vote of no confidence in Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in events which led to a leadership election in which Corbyn was re-elected as leader.[11]

Brexit voting record

On 7 December 2016 Smith voted against a motion tabled by the Labour Party, which set out the timetable for triggering Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the mechanism by which the UK will leave the EU. Smith stated she was not voting against Brexit or triggering Article 50, but "against an unrealistic timetable as far as Parliamentary scrutiny is concerned." 62% of referendum voters in her constituency are estimated to have voted to leave the EU.[12]

Expenses scandal

In 2009, Smith was one of the MPs whose expenses were highlighted by The Daily Telegraph during the Parliamentary expenses scandal, as she had submitted expenses claims for four beds for a one bedroom flat in London.[13]

Personal life and family

In 2005, Smith married Steve Wilson, a former Sheffield City Councillor, whom she now employs as a parliamentary aide.[14] She is also a Sheffield Wednesday F.C., season ticket holder, a Rolling Stones fan, and a keen walker.

References

  1. ^ "House of Commons - The Register of Members' Financial Interests - Part 2: Part 2". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Angela Smith - A Biography". Angela Smith MP (official website). Angela Smith. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Election 2005 Result: Sheffield Hillsborough". BBC News. BBC. 23 May 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  4. ^ Marsden, Richard (26 February 2008). "Angela Smith in talks over future of Woodhead tunnel". The Star. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  5. ^ "How your MP voted on the FOI Bill". Times Online. London: Times Newspapers Ltd. 20 May 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  6. ^ "Bid to toughen up law on dogs". The Star. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  7. ^ "Welcome to the website of Angela Smith MP - About Angela". Angelasmith-mp.org.uk. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Welcome to the website of Angela Smith MP - Angela is named Parliamentarian of the Year 2013". Angelasmith-mp.org.uk. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  9. ^ "S Yorks MP Angela Smith given new role". The Star. Sheffield. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Angela Smith MP - The Polar Connection". Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  11. ^ Torr, George (5 July 2016). "'Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership position is untenable' says Sheffield MP". The Star. Sheffield. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  12. ^ Adam Payne, Adam Bienkov (12 December 2016). "We spoke to the MPs who defied their voters on Brexit". Business Insider. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  13. ^ Johnston, Ian (24 May 2009). "MPs' expenses: New MP sought four beds for a one-bedroom London flat". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  14. ^ Marsden, Richard (14 September 2013). "South Yorks and area MPs claimed £760,000 in expenses". The Star. Sheffield. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hillsborough
2005–2010 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Penistone & Stocksbridge
2010–present 		Incumbent
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