Angela Smith Independent MP
Angela was born in 1961 and spent her early years in Grimsby, her father being a printer and former fisherman. She attended Toll Bar Secondary School, which is located just outside Grimsby.
After studying at night school for her A Levels, she attended Nottingham University where she gained a First in English. She became a lecturer at Dearne Valley College, Sheffield, teaching English to post-16 year olds.
In the mid-1990s, Angela stood for Sheffield Council, taking Broomhill ward from the Conservatives. In 1998 she became Chair of Finance, guiding the city through some very difficult years. In 2002, she was appointed as the Cabinet Member for Education. Under her leadership, Sheffield became regarded as one of the leading educational authorities in the country, piloting many government initiatives.
In Parliament:
At the 2005 General Election, Angela became the MP for Sheffield Hillsborough. From 2005 until 2008, she was a ministerial aide in the Department of Communities and Local Government, and then in the Treasury. In 2009, she joined the Transport Select Committee.
At the 2010 election, she was re-elected to Parliament as the MP for the new constituency of Penistone and Stocksbridge. After a spell as an Opposition Whip, Angela was promoted to the front bench as the Shadow Deputy Leader of the House in October 2011. In April 2014, she became a Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister, returning to the backbenches in September 2015.
Angela currently serves on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
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