Background
Smith grew up in Grimsby, where her grandfather had been the Mayor.
Smith grew up in Grimsby, where her grandfather had been the Mayor.
She studied English at the University of Nottingham in September 1987. She started a Doctor of Philosophy at Newnham College, Cambridge and was an English lecturer at Dearne Valley College in Wath upon Dearne from 1994 until 2003.
She went to Waltham Leas Primary School, now The Leas Junior School on Manor Drive in Waltham and Tollbar Secondary School, in New Waltham, Lincolnshire. She joined the Labour Party at the age of 16 and worked for the National Health Service for five years, before taking A levels on an evening course. She was a councillor on Sheffield City Council for 10 years for the Broomhill ward.
In 2007 she was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Housing Minister Yvette Cooper.
During her tenure Smith worked to reinstate the former Woodhead Lincolnshire between Hadfield and Penistone. Mrs Smith is one of 71 MPs who have signed a petition to re-open the transpennine 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 Member of Parliament"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 works with the RSPCA and the Communication Workers Union on the issue.
The Sheffield Hillsborough seat was abolished at the 2010 election, but Smith became Member of Parliament for the newly created Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency. After a spell 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 Member of Parliament of the year 2011-2012, 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.
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. In response she advised "The principle of supporting MPs to set up a London base is an important one.
You will note from my website that I did not claim for home contents of any kind in 2008-2009 and I never will again. I have received support to set up a London base and am grateful for that, but that’s lieutenant
Future replacement costs will be borne by myself.” The Telegraph later alleged that Angela Smith was amongst MPs to have edited their own Wikipedia article to remove references to the expense scandal.
Vote to Bomb Syria Angela Smith was one of 66 Labour MPs to vote, with the Conservative government, in favour of airstrikes in Syria. In 2016, she called for Jeremy Corbyn to resign from the leadership.
54th United Kingdom Parliament. 55th United Kingdom Parliament. 56th United Kingdom Parliament]
At the 2005 general election Smith was elected Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hillsborough.