Andrew Smith (politician)
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| Andrew Smith MP | |
 The Rt Hon. Andrew Smith, with Hilary Benn in the background |
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| In office 29 May 2002 – 8 September 2004 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
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| Preceded by | Alistair Darling |
| Succeeded by | Alan Johnson |
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| In office 11 October 1999 – 29 May 2002 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Alan Milburn |
| Succeeded by | Paul Boateng |
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Member of Parliament
for Oxford East |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 11 June 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Steven Norris |
| Majority | 963 (2.3%) |
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| Born | 1 February 1952 Reading, Berkshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
Andrew David Smith (born February 1, 1952, near Reading) is a British politician for the Labour Party, and a former member of the Cabinet.
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[edit] Early life
He went to Reading Grammar School, then went to St John's College, Oxford, where he gained a BA and BPhil. He was the Member Relations Officer for Oxford and Swindon Co-op Society from 1979-87. He became an Oxford City councillor when aged 25 in 1976, leaving the council in 1987.
[edit] Parliamentary career
He contested Oxford East in 1983. He is MP for Oxford East, which he won in 1987 from the Conservative Party. After Labour's victory in the 1997 general election he was made a minister in the Department for Education and Employment. He was Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 1999 to 2002, when he became Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; he resigned from this post on September 6, 2004, to spend more time with his family. He won re-election in his Oxford East seat in the 2005 General Election, but saw his majority slashed by 90%.
He is best remembered by some for his opposing of the privatisation of air traffic control in 1996 stating "Our air is not for sale" only for Labour to switch policies and thereby propose a public-private partnership for the National Air Traffic Services. Others point to his stewardship of the Department of Work & Pensions and his focus on reducing child poverty when Minister there.
Smith rarely rebels against his party in Parliament, of the five occasions that he has voted against the government whip since 2001, two of the votes were Smith refusing to accept the Trident Nuclear Weapons System replacement.
[edit] Personal life
His wife Val Smith is a county councillor on Oxfordshire County Council and city councillor on Oxford City Council. He married Valerie Miles on March 26, 1976. They have a son.
[edit] External links
- Andrew Smith MP official site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Andrew Smith MP
- They Work For You - Andrew Smith MP
- BBC Politics page
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by Steven Norris |
Member of Parliament for Oxford East 1987 – present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Alan Milburn |
Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1999–2002 |
Succeeded by Paul Boateng |
| Preceded by Alistair Darling |
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2002–2004 |
Succeeded by Alan Johnson |
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