Introduction
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. 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.
Parliamentary career
At the 2005 general election Smith was elected Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hillsborough. 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. 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.
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.
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.
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. She also became a vice-president of the League Against Cruel Sports. Since February 2016, Smith has also served as a member of the Advisory Board at Polar Research and Policy Initiative.
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.
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.
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.
Personal life and family
In 2005, Smith married Steve Wilson, a former Sheffield City Councillor, whom she now employs as a parliamentary aide. She is also a Sheffield Wednesday F.C., season ticket holder, a Rolling Stones fan, and a keen walker.