Chloe Smith

This article is about the British politician. For the lead singer of the American musical group Rising Appalachia, see Chloe Smith (musician).

Chloe Smith MP
File:Chloesmith.JPG
Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office
In office 4 September 2012 – 6 October 2013
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Mark Harper
Succeeded by	Jo Johnson
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
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 July 2009
Preceded by	Ian Gibson
Majority	4,463 (10.2%)
Personal details
Born	(1982-05-17) 17 May 1982 Ashford, Kent, England
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
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 the 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.

Early life

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

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

Political career

In 2007 Smith was chosen to be the Conservative candidate for the constituency of Norwich North in the general election. 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".

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. She took her seat in the House of Commons when the parliamentary break ended in October. On 14 October 2011 she was appointed Economic Secretary to the Treasury in a ministerial reshuffle, becoming the youngest minister currently serving in the government. According to The Guardian newspaper Smith was appointed to the role because David Cameron wrongly believed she was a trained accountant.

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. Interviewer Jeremy Paxman questioned the apparent change in her views on fuel duty. The interview attracted much comment from the media and other political figures, and was described as a "mauling" and a "humiliation" for Smith. Politicians, including John Prescott and Nadine Dorries, questioned Osborne's judgement for sending a junior minister onto the programme in his place.

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. 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."

During the campaign for the 2015 general election Smith was mocked by political opponents for quoting a constituent's letter in her election literature. The letter, first published in the Norwich Evening News newspaper, said she seemed "to act more like a Socialist than a Conservative." 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. 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."

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.

Political positions

Smith's political stances include support for lower taxation and opposition to the Lisbon Treaty. She also supports the legalisation of gay marriage. She singles out Benjamin Disraeli as a political leader she admires.

Personal life

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

External links

• Official website
• Chloe Smith MP Conservative Party
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
• Flickr page
• Chloe Smith, Grassroot Diplomat

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