Ruth Smeeth
| Ruth Smeeth MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent North | |
|
Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Joan Walley |
| Majority | 4,836 |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
29 June 1979 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Michael Smeeth (2004–present) |
| Alma mater | University of Birmingham |
| Website | Official website |
Ruth Smeeth (born 1979) is a British Labour Party politician who was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stoke-on-Trent North at the 2015 general election.
Early life
Smeeth was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, but was schooled in Bristol and in her early life travelled extensively across the UK due to her parent's trade union work.[1] She graduated with a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Birmingham in 2000.[1] She worked in Public relations, and from January 2004 to September 2005 worked in a PR role at Sodexo, before moving to become director of public affairs and campaigns at the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM) in November 2005.[2] She later worked in PR for Nestlé.[3] In 2010 she was appointed as director of anti-racist organization Hope not Hate.[1]
Parliamentary career
Smeeth was selected as Labour Party candidate for the Burton constituency in the 2010 election, finishing 6,304 votes behind Andrew Griffiths of the Conservative Party.[4]
After winning an all-women shortlist, Smeeth was selected as Labour Party candidate for the Stoke-on-Trent North constituency in the 2015 general election, following the retirement of incumbent Labour MP Joan Walley.[5]
Since becoming an MP, Smeeth has taken up the topic of holiday hunger. She was given an adjournment debate in October 2015 but received a derisory response from Conservative government minister, Edward Timpson.
Smeeth backed Yvette Cooper in the 2015 Labour Leadership Election.
References
- 1 2 3 "About Me". ruthsmeeth.org.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ↑ "Smeeth exits Sodexho for pro-Israel lobby group". PR Week. 9 September 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ↑ "Labour chooses election fighter". Uttoxeter News. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ↑ "Con Gain from Lab". BBC News. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ↑ James, Laura (5 April 2014). "Ruth Smeeth to replace Joan Walley as Labour Parliamentary candidate". The Sentinel. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joan Walley |
Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent North 2015–present |
Incumbent |