Hubbry Logo
Chloe SmithChloe SmithMain
Open search
Chloe Smith
Community hub
Chloe Smith
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Chloe Smith
Chloe Smith
Chloe Smith
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Chloe Rebecca Smith (born 17 May 1982) is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Norwich North from 2009 to 2024. She previously served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from September to October 2022[1] and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology from April to July 2023.[c][2]

Key Information

Smith was elected in a 2009 by-election following the resignation of Labour MP Ian Gibson due to the MPs' expenses scandal. Smith held a number of junior ministerial roles under David Cameron and Theresa May, serving two terms as Parliamentary Secretary for the Constitution. She continued to serve in the latter role after Boris Johnson's victory in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election.

In the February 2020 reshuffle, Smith was promoted to Minister of State during the second Johnson ministry. In the 2021 reshuffle, she was appointed by Johnson as Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions. After Johnson resigned in 2022, Smith supported Liz Truss’s bid to become Conservative leader. Following Truss's appointment as Prime Minister, she appointed Smith as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. She was later temporarily Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology during the time Michelle Donelan MP was Minister on Leave (Secretary of State), a position given to Secretaries of State and Ministers of State while on maternity leave.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Chloe Smith was born in Ashford, Kent, in 1982.[4][5] Her family moved to Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, when she was three years old, and she attended comprehensive schools in Swaffham and Methwold.[6][7] After a gap year working for former Conservative Education Secretary Gillian Shephard,[6] she read English Literature at the University of York.[7] She undertook summer work for Bernard Jenkin.[6]

After graduating from the University of York, Smith joined Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu as a management consultant. She advised private businesses, government departments and public bodies.[6]

In 2007, Smith was chosen to be the Conservative Party candidate for the constituency of Norwich North at the general election.[7] 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".[6]

Parliamentary career

[edit]

Following the resignation of Labour MP Ian Gibson as a result of the MPs' expenses scandal, Smith became the Conservatives' by-election candidate. At the 2009 Norwich North by-election, Smith was elected, winning with 39.5% of the vote and a majority of 7,348.[8] Smith became the youngest member of the House of Commons.[9][10] She took her seat in the House of Commons when the parliamentary break ended in October.[11]

At the 2010 general election, Smith was re-elected as MP for Norwich North with an increased vote share of 40.6% and a decreased majority of 3,901.[12]

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.[13] According to The Guardian newspaper Smith was appointed to the role because David Cameron wrongly understood her to be a trained accountant.[14]

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.[15] Jeremy Paxman questioned the apparent change in her views on fuel duty.[16] The interview attracted much comment, being described as a "mauling" and a "humiliation" of Smith.[17][14] Politicians, including John Prescott and Nadine Dorries, questioned Osborne's judgement for sending a junior minister onto the programme in his place.[15][18]

In September 2012, Smith was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Cabinet Office.

In August 2013, she was criticised for blocking identification of civil servants and public sector bodies responsible for £77m of flights booked through the Government Procurement Service.[19] 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".[20]

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.[21]

During the campaign for the 2015 general election, Smith was mocked by political opponents for quoting a constituent's letter in her election literature.[22] The letter said she seemed "to act more like a Socialist than a Conservative".[23] 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".[22]

At the 2015 general election, Smith was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 43.7% and an increased majority of 4,463.[24]

At the snap 2017 general election, Smith was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 47.7% and a decreased majority of 507.[25] Following the election, she was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland working under James Brokenshire.[26]

Smith in 2018

In January 2018, during the 2018 British cabinet reshuffle by Theresa May, Smith was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Constitution, a role she had previously held under David Cameron. In February 2020, Smith was promoted to Minister of State by Boris Johnson.[27]

In August 2019, Smith was the victim of an anthrax scare in which she was sent a package of white powder.[28]

At the 2019 general election, Smith was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 50.5% and an increased majority of 4,738.[29]

In September 2021, during the cabinet reshuffle, Smith became Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health at the Department for Work and Pensions.[27]

On 6 September 2022, the then-Prime Minister Liz Truss appointed Smith as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. She was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council on 13 September 2022 at Buckingham Palace following her appointment.[30] entitling her to the honorific prefix "The Right Honourable" for Life.

On 25 October 2022, following the appointment of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister, Smith returned to the backbenches.

On 22 November 2022 Smith announced that she would not stand for election to Parliament at the 2024 general election.[31]

From 28 April 2023 to 19 July 2023, Smith was the temporary Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology during Michelle Donelan's maternity leave in accordance with the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021.

Political positions

[edit]

Smith's political stances have included support for lower taxation, increasing VAT,[32] and opposition to the Lisbon Treaty.[33] She also supported the legalisation of same-sex marriage.[34] She singles out Benjamin Disraeli as a political leader she admires.[33]

Smith was opposed to Brexit before the 2016 referendum.[35] She endorsed Boris Johnson during the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election.[36]

Personal life

[edit]

Smith is an active volunteer and fundraiser for several charities including Cancer Research UK and Sport Relief.[7] She is an atheist.[37][38]

In 2013, Smith married financial consultant Sandy McFadzean.[39] They had their first child, a son, in 2016.[40] In 2019, their second child, a daughter, was born.[41]

In November 2020, Smith announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.[42] In June 2021, she announced that after chemotherapy and surgery, she was cancer-free.[43]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Chloe Smith

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Chloe Rebecca Smith (born 17 May 1982) is a British former who served as the Conservative (MP) for Norwich North from July 2009 to May 2024. She entered by winning a in 2009 and subsequently held multiple junior and senior ministerial roles across departments including the , , , and . Her positions included at the (2012–2013 and 2018–2020), for Disabled People, and Work (2021–2022), and brief stints as for Work and Pensions (September–October 2022) and for , Innovation and Technology (April–July 2023). In November 2022, Smith announced she would stand down at the next , citing it as the right time to step back after over a in office. She left following the dissolution of the Commons on 30 May 2024 ahead of the July . Prior to her political career, Smith worked as a management consultant at and studied English at the .

Early Life and Education

Upbringing and Family Influences

Chloe Rebecca Smith was born on 17 May 1982 in . At the age of three, her family moved to Stoke Ferry in , a where she grew up and attended local comprehensive schools, including there before secondary schooling nearby. Smith has identified as the first generation in her family to attend , with both parents leaving at age 16 yet providing strong encouragement for their children's educational advancement. Her parents met while studying at , reflecting a emphasis on creative and despite limited formal schooling. No public details indicate siblings or direct political influences from her immediate , though the relocation to shaped her early exposure to regional community dynamics.

Academic and Early Professional Background

Smith attended comprehensive schools in Norfolk during her upbringing. She subsequently studied English at the , earning a first-class degree in English literature. Following graduation, Smith entered professional practice as a management consultant at , where she gained experience in business advisory services applicable to . She also worked in a parliamentary support role for Conservative MP , representing an East Anglian constituency, which provided early exposure to legislative processes. These positions preceded her selection as the Conservative candidate for North in .

Entry into Politics and Parliamentary Service

2009 By-Election Victory

The Norwich North was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Ian Gibson on 5 June 2009, amid the parliamentary expenses scandal in which he had claimed allowances for a flat subsequently used by his daughter, leading Labour's internal "" panel to bar him from restanding as their candidate. The for the by-election was moved shortly thereafter, with polling day set for 23 2009. Chloe Smith, a 27-year-old management consultant selected as the Conservative , secured victory with 16,703 votes (39.5 percent of the valid vote), defeating Labour's Chris Ostrowski who received 9,355 votes (22.1 percent). Her majority stood at 7,348 votes, overturning Labour's 5,459-vote majority from the 2005 general election and representing a notional swing of approximately 13.5 percent from Labour to the Conservatives. Other candidates included April Pond of the Liberal Democrats with 4,803 votes (11.3 percent) and Glenn Tingle of the with 4,068 votes (9.6 percent), alongside minor party and independent entrants. The result delivered a substantial setback to the Labour government under , whose handling of the expenses crisis and broader economic challenges amid the 2008 financial downturn fueled voter discontent; turnout was 42.7 percent, lower than the 61.6 percent in 2005 but indicative of targeted mobilization against the incumbent party. Smith's win marked the Conservatives' first parliamentary gain from Labour since 1982, presaging their strong performance in the 2010 general election and highlighting the scandal's corrosive impact on Labour's urban marginal seats.

Backbench Contributions and Committee Work

Following her election in the 2009 Norwich North , Smith served on the Public Accounts Commission from 30 October 2009 to 14 October 2011, contributing to oversight of the National Audit Office's operations and financial accountability mechanisms. She also participated as a member of the Committee on Reform of the , known as the Wright Committee, which examined procedures for electing select committee chairs and establishing a backbench business committee, reporting its recommendations in November 2009 to enhance parliamentary scrutiny and backbench influence. Between ministerial roles, Smith joined the Transport Committee on 4 November 2013, serving until the end of the 2010–2015 on 30 March 2015; during this tenure, she focused on inquiries into rail infrastructure and services, advocating for enhancements to East Anglia's transport links amid regional connectivity challenges. Throughout her parliamentary career, Smith engaged in public bill committees during backbench periods, including the Elections Bill Committee in 2021–2022, where she attended four of twelve sittings to scrutinize electoral law reforms, and the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill Committee, attending eight of ten sittings to address property rights issues. These roles involved detailed examination of legislative proposals, amendments, and witness testimonies to ensure robust policy implementation.

Ministerial Appointments and Roles

Chloe Smith was appointed on 14 October 2011, serving until 6 September 2012, where she handled and regulation. She then became at the from September 2012 to October 2013, focusing on efficiency and civil service reform initiatives. Following the 2017 general election, Smith served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for and Assistant from 15 June 2017 to 8 January 2018, addressing post-Brexit preparations and regional stability issues. She returned to the as from 9 January 2018 to 13 February 2020, overseeing constitutional matters including electoral law and policy. Promoted to for the Constitution and Devolution at the on 13 February 2020, Smith held the role until 15 September 2021, managing responses to the pandemic's impact on democratic processes and parliamentary procedures. She subsequently joined the as for Disabled People, and Work from 16 September 2021 to 6 September 2022, prioritizing employment support for individuals with disabilities and health conditions. Under Prime Minister , Smith was elevated to for Work and Pensions on 6 September 2022, a position she retained until 25 October 2022 amid economic policy turbulence. In the subsequent administration, she served as for Science, Innovation and Technology from 28 April 2023 to 20 July 2023, advocating for research funding and technological competitiveness.

Political Positions and Policy Contributions

Economic and Fiscal Stances

Chloe Smith consistently supported Conservative fiscal policies aimed at reducing the deficit through spending restraint, particularly in welfare, during her tenure as MP for Norwich North. In a 2015 debate on the Queen's Speech, she emphasized the previous Parliament's achievement of £20 billion in welfare savings, arguing that such measures were essential to avoid alternatives like higher taxes or borrowing, which she implied would burden future generations. Her parliamentary voting record reflects this approach, with consistent support for legislation cutting benefits, including the and Work Bill in 2015, which reduced the household benefit cap, froze working-age benefits, and lowered social rents. As in 2012, Smith defended budget measures for deficit reduction, including the deferral of a planned duty rise funded by Whitehall underspends rather than new borrowing, positioning it as prudent fiscal management amid economic pressures. She advocated for effective implementation of these policies to ensure deficit shrinkage without undermining growth. On taxation, Smith endorsed supply-side measures to stimulate economic activity. During the 2022 mini-budget under , she argued that Conservative tax cuts—such as reversals of increases and corporation tax hikes—benefited a broad range of taxpayers, countering criticisms that they disproportionately aided high earners by highlighting relief for lower and middle-income groups. This aligned with her broader endorsement of growth-oriented fiscal loosening when deficits were projected to decline, though she maintained support for overall fiscal discipline.

Social and Welfare Policies

Smith served as Minister for Disabled People, and Work from 16 September 2021 to 6 September 2022, where she oversaw policies aimed at improving outcomes for disabled individuals through the Health and Work Green Paper, emphasizing personalized support, workplace adjustments, and reducing reliance on benefits by facilitating transitions into the labor market. In a 13 October 2022 speech at , she described disabled workers as a "gold mine for growth and opportunity," advocating for reforms to address barriers like conditions and employer attitudes, while aligning with broader Conservative goals of increasing the employment rate from around 53% in 2022 toward the 80% benchmark for non-disabled workers. Throughout her parliamentary tenure, Smith consistently supported welfare reforms designed to incentivize work over dependency, including votes for the and Work Bill on 20 July 2015, which lowered the household benefit cap, froze most working-age benefits until 2020, and reduced social housing rents by 1% annually for four years to address a projected £30 billion welfare deficit. She also backed reductions in benefits for social tenants with excess bedrooms, effective from April 2013, arguing it encouraged efficient use of stock amid shortages, though critics labeled it the "bedroom tax." Between 2011 and 2021, her voting record showed near-unanimous support for measures curbing welfare expenditure, such as opposing inflation-linked benefit uprating in multiple divisions from 2013 to 2022, reflecting a fiscal conservative stance prioritizing budgetary restraint and employment activation over expansive entitlements. On family-related policies, Smith endorsed targeted interventions like the , introduced in 2011, which allocated an extra £625 per pupil annually (rising to £1,900 by 2014-15 for disadvantaged primary pupils) to schools serving low-income families, aiming to close attainment gaps through evidence-based tutoring and early intervention. Her approach aligned with Conservative emphases on family stability and opportunity, without advocating universal expansions in s, as seen in her support for capping inclusion in the overall benefit cap via the Act 2012. Regarding broader social issues, Smith voted in favor of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill at its second reading on 5 February 2013 and third reading on 21 May 2013, contributing to its passage by majorities of 225 and 140, respectively, which legalized in from March 2014. However, she opposed extending and access to in a 9 2019 vote (332-99 for abortion legalization), respecting principles despite the eventual imposition via UK parliamentary override. On , her record included opposition to liberalizing reforms, such as voting against changes, and in September 2022, as Work and Pensions Secretary, she acknowledged prior votes against abortion expansions but committed not to reverse existing laws, indicating a cautious, non-interventionist stance post-.

Technology, Innovation, and Workforce Development

During her brief tenure as for , Innovation and from 28 April to 20 July 2023, Chloe Smith led the newly formed Department for , Innovation and , prioritizing a pro-innovation regulatory environment for . She emphasized harnessing AI's potential while mitigating risks through adaptive oversight rather than prescriptive new legislation. On 2 June 2023, Smith convened a roundtable with senior executives from leading AI firms, including representatives from major tech companies, to explore collaborative paths for safe AI deployment and address regulatory gaps. This aligned with the government's A pro-innovation approach to AI White Paper, published in March 2023, which she defended in as establishing a flexible framework for existing regulators. The approach relied on five cross-sectoral principles—safety (including security), sound measurement (robust testing), transparency (explicability), fairness (non-discrimination), and (human oversight), and redress/contestability (remedies for harm)—to foster without stifling growth. Smith argued this model supported the UK's competitive edge in AI, contrasting with more rigid regimes elsewhere, and anticipated ongoing parliamentary scrutiny post the in November 2023. In workforce development, Smith's roles at the shaped policies aimed at reducing economic inactivity and building skills resilience amid technological shifts. As for from February 2020 to September 2021, she advanced initiatives to integrate health, disability, and work support, including expansions in occupational health services to facilitate returns to . Appointed Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work on 28 September 2021, she prioritized evidence-based interventions to lower the 8 million adults out of work due to long-term sickness, drawing on data showing post-pandemic rises in inactivity. Her subsequent stint as for Work and Pensions from 6 September to 25 October 2022 oversaw broader efforts like the Youth Guarantee and skills bootcamps, targeting 23 million adult training opportunities by 2025 to address labor shortages exacerbated by automation and demographic changes. Smith linked technology to workforce challenges, advocating AI's role in tackling economic inactivity—for instance, using for personalized job matching and interventions—while cautioning against over-regulation that could hinder adoption in and . Earlier, as at the from January 2018 to February 2020, she supported digital transparency measures, such as digital imprints for online political advertising under the , to enhance accountability in tech-driven public engagement. These positions reflected her consistent emphasis on causal links between , regulatory balance, and , grounded in empirical labor market data from the showing tech-driven job displacement alongside new opportunities in high-skills sectors.

Controversies and Public Scrutiny

Media Interviews and Policy Explanations

In June 2012, Chloe Smith, then , appeared on BBC Newsnight to explain the government's unexpected decision to defer a 3.8 pence per increase in duty, originally scheduled for 2012, citing budgetary pressures and the need to protect motorists amid rising prices. During the interview with on 27 June, Smith faced repeated questioning on the fiscal rationale, the timing of the announcement following Conservative losses in local by-elections, and potential inconsistencies with prior forecasts projecting £550 million in revenue from the rise. She deferred multiple times to Chancellor George Osborne's judgment, stating variations of "the Chancellor has today announced" without providing independent substantiation, which led to perceptions of evasion. The exchange drew immediate and widespread for Smith's apparent lack of preparation and grasp of details, with Paxman pressing her on whether she considered herself competent and highlighting her inability to quantify the policy's cost or alternatives. Political analysts and journalists labeled it among the most disastrous ministerial broadcasts, comparable to historical "car crash" interviews, attributing the faltering performance to her relative inexperience—she had held the post for under a year since her —and No. 10's strategic choice to field a junior minister rather than or a veteran. Senior Conservatives privately faulted central party handlers for inadequate briefing, arguing it undermined public confidence in economic messaging at a time of measures. Subsequent media scrutiny extended to broader questions of ministerial accountability, with outlets noting Smith's promotion at age 29 as emblematic of rapid advancement without sufficient scrutiny, though defenders pointed to her prior backbench work on . Smith later described the encounter as a learning experience in handling adversarial questioning, contrasting Paxman's style unfavorably with other interviewers, but it temporarily dented her standing within the party. The episode underscored tensions in communicating policy U-turns, which for Budget Responsibility later quantified as adding £300 million to borrowing in 2012-13 due to foregone revenue. In her later role as Minister for the Constitution from 2020 to 2023, Smith defended voter identification requirements under the in multiple broadcast appearances, asserting that pilots showed minimal disenfranchisement—rejecting claims of disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities or low-income groups based on from 2018-2019 where acceptance rates exceeded 99% in participating areas. These explanations faced pushback in media debates, particularly amid 2023 implementation, where opponents cited potential barriers for 2-3.5 million electors lacking suitable ID, though official turnout indicated no systemic drop. Critics, including Labour figures, challenged her analogies between voter fraud (estimated at 0.0025% of ballots in reviews) and severe crimes like during a 2019 segment, deeming them inflammatory, but Smith maintained the comparison highlighted underappreciated risks to electoral trust.

Statements on Electoral Integrity and Other Issues

In her role as Minister for the from 2019 to 2022, Chloe Smith advocated for measures to bolster , emphasizing the need to combat potential fraud despite its low documented incidence. She supported the introduction of mandatory voter at polling stations, arguing that such safeguards were essential to maintain public confidence in the democratic process, even if reported cases of personation—where someone votes in another's name—numbered only in the single digits over multiple elections, such as three convictions between 2017 and 2019. During the passage of the , Smith stated in that the legislation would "protect the integrity of our democracy" by updating outdated rules and addressing vulnerabilities exposed in local pilots, where trials in five councils in 2018 demonstrated feasible implementation without widespread disenfranchisement. She dismissed opposition claims of voter suppression, asserting that free voter ID provision for those without documents ensured accessibility, and cited international examples like and parts of the where similar requirements operated effectively. A notable controversy arose in April 2019 when Smith, defending the government's focus on during a House of Commons debate, likened its under-reporting to other low-incidence but serious crimes, including , stating: "It is wrong to say that we should not focus policy on crimes that have small numbers... There are many crimes that are under-reported, including ." Labour MPs, including , condemned the analogy as "disgraceful and bizarre," arguing it trivialized , while Smith later clarified she aimed to highlight the risks of dismissing rare but undermining offenses. Critics, including the , contended that electoral personation was negligible— with the Electoral Commission reporting just 596 allegations of fraud from 2016 to 2019, only a fraction involving ID impersonation—questioning the policy's proportionality amid concerns over disproportionate impacts on ethnic minorities and low-income groups lacking standard IDs. Smith maintained that integrity measures prevented erosion of trust, rejecting data voids on demographic effects as insufficient grounds to abandon reforms, though a 2020 Electoral Commission statement indicated no robust evidence existed to confirm voter ID did not deter Black, Asian, and minority ethnic voters. On related issues, Smith expressed concerns over emerging threats like AI-generated in elections, writing in June 2024 that while the technology posed risks to voter perception, existing laws sufficed without new regulations, prioritizing enforcement of transparency rules over reactive bans. She also addressed overseas voting reforms, supporting the removal of the 15-year residency limit for British expatriates in the Elections Act to enfranchise up to 3.5 million citizens, framing it as a democratic expansion rather than a partisan shift, despite analyses showing potential benefits skewed toward older, Conservative-leaning demographics. In non-electoral contexts, Smith publicly distanced herself from her husband's 2020 claim that might stem from "mental illness," stating she disagreed and viewed the virus as a biological requiring standard responses. These positions reflected her broader emphasis on evidence-based safeguards amid debates over policy impacts.

Voting Decisions and Internal Party Dynamics

Throughout her tenure as MP for Norwich North from 2009 to 2024, Chloe Smith demonstrated strong alignment with the Conservative Party whip, rebelling against the majority of her parliamentary colleagues on only 15 occasions across 2,843 divisions. This record reflects a generally loyal approach to , particularly on economic and fiscal matters, where she consistently supported government positions on welfare reductions and policies as summarized in independent voting analyses. Smith's divergences typically arose on issues of , social reform, or urgent humanitarian needs rather than ideological opposition to core Conservative tenets. On 21 May 2013, she voted in favor of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, joining 124 Conservative MPs against a slim majority of 134 who opposed it, prioritizing expansion of civil rights over traditional party reservations. Similarly, on 11 September 2015, she supported the Assisted Dying (No. 2) Bill, aligning with a small faction of 27 Conservative backbenchers against 210 party members, advocating for terminally ill individuals' autonomy in end-of-life decisions. In procedural and Brexit-related votes, she occasionally broke ranks during the protracted withdrawal negotiations. On 13 March 2019, Smith voted against the government's stance on the UK's , contributing to a rebellion of 66 Conservative MPs who opposed the majority's position amid debates over implementation timelines. A late-term rebellion underscored her focus on victim redress: on 5 December 2023, as one of 22 Conservative MPs defying the whip, she backed a Labour amendment to expedite compensation for infected blood scandal victims, stating she had "thought of contaminated blood victim" in her constituency when deciding to prioritize swift justice over party unity. This action contributed to the government's first Commons defeat under on the issue, highlighting tensions between fiscal caution and moral imperatives within Conservative ranks. Such selective independence did not indicate broader factionalism; Smith maintained constructive relations across party leaderships, serving in ministerial roles under , , , , and Sunak without reported expulsions or sustained internal conflicts.

Resignation and Post-Parliamentary Activities

Decision to Step Down in 2024

On 22 November 2022, Chloe Smith announced that she would not seek re-selection as the Conservative candidate for North at the next , citing that it was "the right time to step back" after serving as MP since winning a in 2010. This decision preceded a deadline set by the Conservative Party for MPs to notify their intent not to stand amid anticipated boundary changes for the 2023 review, which ultimately did not proceed as planned before the 2024 election. Smith's announcement formed part of a broader pattern of over 50 Conservative MPs declaring they would not contest the election, reflecting internal party pressures and unfavorable national polling that foreshadowed the party's significant losses on 4 July 2024, when Norwich North returned to Labour control after her tenure. She continued serving until Parliament's dissolution on 30 May 2024, after which her term ended without contesting the seat. No further public elaboration on personal or professional motivations beyond her initial statement was provided by Smith at the time.

Subsequent Roles and Engagements (2024–2025)

Following her departure from the House of Commons on 30 May 2024, Smith transitioned to advisory and leadership roles in the private sector, supporting start-ups and established organisations on technological change, workforce transformation, and skills development. In January 2025, Smith was elected President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) by its governing Council, with the appointment publicly announced on 12 February 2025; she succeeded Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith in this non-executive position. As President, she serves as an ambassador for the HR profession, collaborating with the CIPD's board and executive to advance evidence-based people management practices, regulatory frameworks, and policy influence on labour markets and innovation. In a March 2025 interview, Smith outlined priorities including bolstering the profession's credibility amid economic uncertainty and technological disruption, emphasising mission-driven leadership over short-term metrics. Smith concurrently chairs the board of Silence Speaks, a UK-based technology start-up launched to develop AI-driven platforms that translate into text and spoken language—and vice versa—to enhance communication accessibility for deaf and hearing-impaired individuals. This paid role, which leverages her prior experience as for , and , underwent review by the UK's Advisory on Business Appointments, resulting in guidance issued on 23 April 2025 permitting acceptance subject to standard post-government employment restrictions. Throughout 2025, Smith has undertaken public speaking engagements aligned with her expertise, including a address at the HR Focus conference on 24 October 2025 in , , where she urged integration of AI and innovation into strategies while prioritising ethical, worker-centered approaches to avoid exacerbating inequalities.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Chloe Smith married Sandy McFadzean in 2013 following their announcement in 2012, with the couple opting for a private family wedding in . The couple has two children: a son named Alastair, born in September 2016, and a daughter named Rosamund, born on 28 April 2019. Smith and McFadzean utilized after Alastair's birth, allowing Smith to balance her parliamentary duties with family responsibilities, including bringing her infant son to the in early 2017.

Public Persona and Interests

Smith entered public life as one of the youngest Members of upon her in the 2009 Norwich North by-election at age 27, where she was highlighted for bringing practical experience from her prior role as a management consultant at and for dismissing concerns about her relative youth in office. Her public image has emphasized competence in policy delivery across portfolios like the , work and pensions, and science and technology, often positioning her as a pragmatic and reform-oriented Conservative focused on real-world application over ideological posturing. In terms of personal interests, Smith has stated enjoyment of sports and , alongside active involvement as a charity volunteer and patron of local and organizations. She maintains commitments to causes reflecting her parliamentary work, serving as a for National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), where she advocates on and issues following her role in passing the (Scotland) Act 2015 and related UK initiatives, and for the cancer charity supporting research and patient care in . These engagements underscore a public persona aligned with and , extending beyond her political tenure.

References

  1. https://www.whoshallivotefor.com/parties/conservative/mps/chloe-smith
  2. https://members.parliament.uk/member/1609/contact
  3. https://www.gov.uk/government/people/chloe-smith
  4. https://members.parliament.uk/member/1609/career
  5. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-63715688
  6. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jul/24/chloe-smith-youngest-mp-norwich-north
  7. https://alchetron.com/Chloe-Smith
  8. https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/203/education-committee/news/174089/chair-nominations-open-for-education-committee/
  9. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/11/26/chloe-smith-mp-had-great-nhs-treatment-worried-others-not/
  10. https://rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.php?PgID=572413&ClubID=2106
  11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8166769.stm
  12. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/05/mp-ian-gibson-stands-down
  13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8085910.stm
  14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8125531.stm
  15. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/world/europe/25britain.html
  16. https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/news-by-year/2009/07/norwich-north-by-election-result/
  17. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2009/07/labour-election-party-gibson
  18. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jul/24/norwich-north-byelection-results-full
  19. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jul/23/polls-open-norwich-north-byelection
  20. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gordon-brown-faces-backlash-after-408577
  21. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24691/chloe_smith/norwich_north/memberships
  22. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f980ff58fa8f543f3e9141a/LHOC_podcast_transcripts_episodes_1-8.doc
  23. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/chloe-smith
  24. https://www.ueapolitics.org/2015/01/15/chloe-smith-bother-politics-parliament/
  25. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24691/chloe_smith/norwich_north
  26. https://disabilityunit.blog.gov.uk/2021/09/28/meet-the-new-minister-for-disabled-people-health-and-work-chloe-smith-mp/
  27. https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-work-and-pensions
  28. https://parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/chloe-smith/debate/2015-05-27/commons/commons-chamber/debate-on-the-address
  29. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2015-07-20c.1256.0
  30. https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/new-dwp-secretary-consistently-voted-cut-benefits/
  31. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24691/chloe_smith/norwich_north/votes
  32. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2012-07-02/debates/12070242000001/FinanceBill
  33. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/jun/27/chloe-smith-newsnight-humiliation-tories
  34. https://www.yahoo.com/news/chloe-smith-did-tory-mp-151940743.html
  35. https://www.inkl.com/news/gmb-s-susanna-reid-grills-tory-mp-on-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy-in-heated-exchange
  36. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/a-gold-mine-for-growth-and-opportunity
  37. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jul/24/norwich-north-chloe-smith
  38. https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?id=uk.org.publicwhip/member/42575&showall=yes
  39. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/new-health-secretary-will-not-seek-to-undo-abortion-laws/41968263.html
  40. https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/ai-election-new-laws-needed
  41. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/technology-secretary-holds-roundtable-with-leading-ai-innovators
  42. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-06-14/debates/82DBB544-6A19-4A47-BF09-DA2D32F016CE/ArtificialIntelligenceRegulation
  43. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c1e399c43191000d1a45f4/a-pro-innovation-approach-to-ai-regulation-amended-governement-response-web-ready.pdf
  44. https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/former-tech-secretary-chloe-smith-ai-summit-regulation
  45. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-x-economic-inactivity-rt-hon-chloe-smith-6ycae
  46. https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/1584/documents/15057/default/
  47. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jun/27/jeremy-paxman-chloe-smith-transcript
  48. https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/chloe-smith-watch-more-cringeworthy-941917
  49. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-20096219
  50. https://www.mediatrainingassociates.co.uk/dealing-with-tough-interviews-lessons-from-that-newsnight-interview/
  51. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-minister-chloe-smith-slammed-14276387
  52. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/28/mps-may-have-been-misled-over-bame-voter-id-claims
  53. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/chloe-smith/debate/2018-07-19/commons/written-statements/electoral-integrity
  54. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chloe-smith-speech-at-solace
  55. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/local-council/20741521.norwich-mp-says-highlighting-reported-crimes-accused-comparing-rape-voter-id-fraud/
  56. https://electoral-reform.org.uk/latest-news-and-research/parliamentary-briefings/letter-sent-to-chloe-smith-mp-minister-for-the-constitution/
  57. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c67d2ed915d696ccfc8d7/Draft_response_to_Overseas_Electors_policy_statement_v2__1_.pdf
  58. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54017134
  59. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2013-05-21/division/13052186000682/Marriage(SameSexCouples)Bill
  60. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-09-11/division/15091126001423/AssistedDying(No2)Bill
  61. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-03-13/division/5CEA4F96-F092-4C01-9C1C-825E36F01C17/UK%E2%80%99SWithdrawalFromTheEuropeanUnion
  62. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-67628704
  63. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/12/04/tories-warned-lose-whip-rebel-infected-blood-scandal-vote/
  64. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ministers-reflect/chloe-smith
  65. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/nov/22/tories-brace-for-more-departures-as-mp-says-she-wont-run-at-next-election-chloe-smith
  66. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/11/22/chloe-smith-former-work-pensions-secretary-to-quit-politics/
  67. https://x.com/NorwichChloe/status/1795953516827037798
  68. https://www.cipd.org/en/about/press-releases/rt-hon-chloe-smith-appointed-new-president-of-cipd/
  69. https://www.cipd.org/en/about/news/The-Rt-Hon-Chloe-Smith-appointed-as-CIPD-President/
  70. https://www.cipd.org/en/about/leadership-governance/our-president/
  71. https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1910964/rt-hon-chloe-smith-i-will-back-people-profession-%25E2%2580%2593-i-believe-mission
  72. https://silencespeaks.io/about-us/
  73. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smith-chloe-secretary-of-state-for-the-department-of-science-innovation-and-technology-and-previously-secretary-of-state-and-minister-of-state-fo/advice-letter-chloe-smith-chair-silence-speaks
  74. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rthonchloesmith_i-was-honoured-to-give-a-keynote-address-activity-7387497142552121346-QxOL
  75. https://thebftonline.com/2025/10/23/cipd-president-calls-for-human-centered-innovation-in-africas-workplace-transformation/
  76. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/21100069.norwich-north-mp-chloe-smith-announces-engagement/
  77. https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/husband-tory-minister-chloe-smith-covid-19-mental-illness-DWygXg_2/
  78. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2763768/mp-chloe-smith-brings-baby-house-of-commons-brexit-article-50/
  79. https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/norwich-mp-announces-birth-of-daughter-1-6021833/
  80. https://londonspeakerbureau.com/speaker-profile/chloe-smith/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
Contribute something
User Avatar
No comments yet.