Career
He has represented the Old Moat Ward on Manchester City Council since 1997. Smith attended the independent Manchester grammar school in Fallowfield. He is a former Executive Member for Finance on Manchester City Council and a former governor of Parrs Wood High School.
He was chosen in June 2013 as the Labour candidate for Manchester Withington.
He was selected in preference to the candidate backed by Unite the Union. At the general election in May 2015 he defeated the Liberal Democrat incumbent John Leech who had held the seat since 2005.