Chloe Smith

Chloe Smith
MP
Minister for the Constitution
Assumed office
9 January 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May
Minister David Lidington
Preceded by Chris Skidmore
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Northern Ireland Office
In office
14 June 2017  9 January 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May
Sec. of State James Brokenshire
Preceded by Kris Hopkins
Succeeded by Shailesh Vara
Assistant Government Whip
In office
15 June 2017  8 January 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May
Chief Whip Gavin Williamson
Julian Smith
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office
23 June 2015  13 July 2016
Leader David Cameron
Chancellor Oliver Letwin
Preceded by Jake Berry
Succeeded by Stuart Andrew
Minister for Constitutional
and Political Reform
In office
4 September 2012  6 October 2013
Prime Minister David Cameron
Minister Francis Maude
Preceded by Mark Harper
Succeeded by Greg Clark (Cities and Constitution)
Economic Secretary to the Treasury
In office
14 October 2011  4 September 2012
Prime Minister David Cameron
Chancellor George Osborne
Preceded by Justine Greening
Succeeded by Sajid Javid
Member of Parliament
for Norwich North
Assumed office
23 July 2009
Preceded by Ian Gibson
Majority 507 (1.1%)
Personal details
Born Chloe Rebecca Smith
(1982-05-17) 17 May 1982[1]
Ashford, Kent, England[2]
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s)
Sandy McFadzean (m. 2013)
Children 1
Alma mater University of York
Occupation Politician
Website www.chloesmith.org.uk

Chloe Rebecca Smith (born 17 May 1982) is a British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament for Norwich North. She was elected to the seat in a by-election on 23 July 2009 following the resignation of Labour MP Ian Gibson after the MPs' expenses scandal.[3] Since January 2018 she has served as Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, a position she previously held under David Cameron from 2012 to 2013.

Early life

Smith was born in Ashford, Kent; her family moved to Norfolk when she was three years old.[4] Growing up in Stoke Ferry,[5] she attended comprehensive schools in Swaffham and Methwold; after a gap year working for former Conservative Education Secretary Gillian Shephard,[4] she read English Literature at the University of York.[5] She undertook summer work for Bernard Jenkin.[4]

After graduating from York University, she joined Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu as a management consultant. She advised private businesses, government departments and public bodies.[4]

In 2007, Smith was chosen to be the Conservative Party candidate for the constituency of Norwich North at the general election.[5] She then took leave from her job, working for Conservative Central Office on secondment, to "draw up detailed plans to put our policies into practice".[4]

Parliamentary career

Following the resignation of Labour MP Ian Gibson, Smith became the Conservatives' by-election candidate and subsequently gained the seat, becoming the youngest member of the House of Commons.[6] She took her seat in the House of Commons when the parliamentary break ended in October.[7]

On 14 October 2011, she was appointed Economic Secretary to the Treasury in a ministerial reshuffle, becoming the youngest minister serving in government at that point.[8] According to The Guardian newspaper Smith was appointed to the role because David Cameron wrongly believed she was a trained accountant.[9]

On 26 June 2012, she appeared on the BBC Two current affairs programme Newsnight and was interviewed about Chancellor George Osborne's decision that day to delay plans to increase fuel duty.[10] Interviewer Jeremy Paxman questioned the apparent change in her views on fuel duty.[11] The interview attracted much comment from the media and other political figures, and was described as a "mauling" and a "humiliation" for Smith.[12][9] Politicians, including John Prescott and Nadine Dorries, questioned Osborne's judgement for sending a junior minister onto the programme in his place.[10][13]

In August 2013, she was criticised by transparency campaigners for blocking the identification of civil servants and public sector bodies responsible for £77m of flights booked through the Government Procurement Service.[14] In October 2013, she resigned from the Cabinet Office to "concentrate on the most important part of my job: being the Member of Parliament for Norwich North".[15]

During the campaign for the 2015 general election, Smith was mocked by political opponents for quoting a constituent's letter in her election literature.[16] The letter, first published in the Norwich Evening News newspaper, said she seemed "to act more like a Socialist than a Conservative".[17] Political Scrapbook, the left-wing political blog, published a mocked-up photograph depicting Smith as Marxist "urban guerilla" Wolfie Smith giving a clenched fist salute outside Norwich railway station.[16][18] Smith responded: "Clearly I am not a socialist. I am a proud Conservative. What the letter writer was saying was my work can appeal across party lines". Labour Party candidate Jessica Asato said: "Local people won't forget she is one of the most loyal Conservative MPs and shows unwavering support for the vicious bedroom tax, tax cuts for millionaires and the swift march of the profiteers into the NHS. If this is socialism I'll eat my hat."[16]

In May 2014, she was awarded the Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Award under the Business Driver category for designing and conceiving the Norwich for Jobs campaign, which brought over 400 jobs and apprenticeships for young people in her constituency.[19]

She retained her Norwich North seat in the snap 2017 general election, taking 21,900 votes, ahead of Labour's Chris Jones by 507 votes.[20] Following the election, she was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland working under James Brokenshire.[21]

Political positions

Smith's political stances have included support for lower taxation, increasing VAT,[22] and opposition to the Lisbon Treaty.[23] She also supported the legalisation of same-sex marriage.[24] She singles out Benjamin Disraeli as a political leader she admires.[23]

Smith was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum.[25]

Personal life

Smith is an active volunteer and fundraiser for several charities including Cancer Research UK and Sport Relief.[5] She is a keen cyclist and badminton player. She also enjoys life drawing and has posed as a model at classes.[26] She is an atheist.[27][28]

In 2012, Smith proposed to financial consultant Sandy McFadzean, whom she had been dating for four months. McFadzean proposed to her in the "traditional style" the following day.[29] In 2013, the couple married in South Runcton,[30] and they had their first child, a son, in 2016.[31]

References

  1. "The youngest members of the potential next intake of Conservative MPs". ConservativeHome. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  2. McSmith, Andy (23 July 2009). "Today Norwich, tomorrow the world for rising star of Tories". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 26 July 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  3. "Tories beat Labour in by-election". BBC News. 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Profile: Chloe Smith". BBC News. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "About Chloe". chloesmith.org.uk. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. "Labour braced for key poll defeat". BBC News. 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  7. Stephenson, Alex (24 July 2009). "Profile:Chloe Smith". politics.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 July 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  8. Falloon, Matt (14 October 2011). "Chloe Smith appointed new economic secretary". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 December 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  9. 1 2 Watt, Nicholas (27 June 2012). "Chloe Smith's Newsnight humiliation is No 10's fault, say senior Tories". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  10. 1 2 Quinn, Ben (27 June 2012). "George Osborne branded a coward after Tory minister's Newsnight disaster". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  11. "Treasury Minister grilled over delay of 3p fuel duty rise". BBC News. 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  12. Freedland, Jonathan (27 June 2012). "How to play Paxman: what Chloe Smith should have said". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017.
  13. "David Cameron denies George Osborne 'hid' after fuel U-turn". BBC News. 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  14. Holehouse, Matthew (5 August 2013). "Minister's veto keeps public sector jet set's £77m flight bill a mystery". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  15. "Chloe Smith stands down as minister to restate what is most important to her: her work for Norwich North". chloesmithmp.com. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 Dickson, Annabelle (30 March 2015). ""If this is socialism I'll eat my hat" – Conservative candidate's campaign leaflet prompts mock-up". Eastern Daily Press. Norwich. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  17. McSmith, Andy (30 March 2015). "Andy McSmith's Diary: Frozen Cameron reveals all to Heat – S-Word of the Day". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  18. "Citizen Smith: Desperate Leaflet Claims Former Tory Ministert is "a Socialist"". Political Scrapbook. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  19. "Grassroot Diplomat Who's Who". Grassroot Diplomat. 15 March 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  20. "Norwich North parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  21. Anderson, Stuart (14 June 2012). "Norwich North MP Chloe Smith has a new role in government as parliamentary under-secretary of state for Northern Ireland". Eastern Daily Press. Norwich. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  22. "Chloe Smith – Assistant Whip". Theyworkforyou.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  23. 1 2 Fisher, Chris. "Meet Chloe Smith, UK's youngest MP". Eastern Daily Press. Norwich. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  24. Green, Jessica (3 August 2011). "Tory MP Chloe Smith supports gay marriage". Pink News. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011.
  25. Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  26. Owen, Glen (18 February 2012). "From ice maiden to no-clothes Chloe: How Cabinet's young star Smith revealed all for art". Daily Mail. London. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  27. Chapman, Tom (15 July 2009). "Norwich election candidates tackle the issues". The Norwich And Norfolk Christian Community Website. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  28. Waugh, Paul (13 October 2009). "Newest Tory MP – Young, gifted and atheist". London Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  29. Hill, Chris (10 December 2012). "Norwich North MP Chloe Smith announces her engagement". Eastern Daily Press. Norwich. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  30. Grimmer, Dan (10 November 2013). "Norwich MP Chloe Smith ties the knot". Eastern Daily Press. Norwich. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  31. "Chloe Smith MP welcomes new arrival". .chloesmith.org.uk. 29 September 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  • Official website
  • Chloe Smith MP Conservative Party
  • Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
  • Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 2010–present
  • Voting record at Public Whip
  • Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
  • Flickr page
  • Chloe Smith, Grassroot Diplomat
  • Gould, Mark (24 July 2009). "Norwich North byelection: who is Chloe Smith?". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Ian Gibson
Member of Parliament for Norwich North
2009 – present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Jo Swinson
Baby of the House
2009–2010
Succeeded by
Pamela Nash
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