Lisa Smart
Lisa Smart | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Hazel Grove | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | William Wragg |
| Majority | 6,500 (14.1%) |
| Liberal Democrat portfolios | |
| 2024–present | Home Affairs |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Alma mater | |
Lisa Smart is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Hazel Grove since 2024.[1] She previously contested the seat in the 2015, 2017, and 2019 general elections. As of 2024, she is the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson in the House of Commons.
Political career
[edit]Stockport councillor (2016–24)
[edit]Smart previously served as a councillor on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, representing Bredbury Green and Romiley from 2016 to 2024. When the Liberal Democrats took control of the council in 2019, she served as Deputy Leader of the Council until 2022.[2]
After Andrew Stunnell stood down as Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove, Smart was selected as the candidate to contest the 2015 General Election, losing to Conservative William Wragg.[3]
Smart stood again in 2017 and 2019, eventually gaining the seat in the 2024 general election.
Member of Parliament (2024–present)
[edit]One of the 72 Liberal Democrat MPs elected in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, Lisa Smart won Hazel Grove from the Conservatives. She was the first Liberal Democrat MP elected there since Andrew Stunnell in 2010.
Historically being held by either the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives, the 2024 general election saw the Labour Party come second for the first time in the seat's history.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Lisa Smart | 17,328 | 37.7 | ||
| Labour | Claire Vibert | 10,828 | 23.5 | ||
| Conservative | Paul Athans | 9,011 | 19.6 | ||
| Reform UK | John Kelly | 6,955 | 15.1 | ||
| Green | Graham Reid | 1,763 | 3.8 | ||
| SDP | Tim O'Rourke | 113 | 0.2 | ||
| Majority | 6,500 | 14.1 | |||
| Turnout | 45,998 | 63.2 | |||
| Liberal Democrats win (new boundaries) | |||||
During the 2024 election campaign, Smart was recorded joking that a person with a Liverpool accent who is not from the area was "nicking (stealing) stuff" while canvassing. The comment was criticized for reinforcing derogatory stereotypes about people from Liverpool.[5]
Following her election to the House of Commons, Smart stood down as a Councillor in Stockport in September 2024.[6]
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey appointed Smart as Home Affairs spokesperson in September 2024[7]
Personal life
[edit]Smart graduated with a degree in mathematics from Durham University, and also holds an MBA from the London Business School.[8]
According to her personal website, Smart has worked as a volunteer in her local community, "serving as a trustee for the New Horizons Canal Boat for disabled people and their carers in Marple, working as a volunteer for the Woodley & Romiley Towpath Team, and being a trustee of the Barrack Hill Education Trust."[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Hazel Grove | General Election 2024". Sky News.
- ^ "Lib Dem deputy stands down to focus on winning 'target' seat at general election". Manchester Evening News. 2022-01-14. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
- ^ "UK Parliament election results: Election for the constituency of Hazel Grove on 7 May 2015". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
- ^ "Election results for Hazel Grove". Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Lib Dem candidate sorry for Liverpool 'nicking stuff' comment". BBC News. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Stockport MPs quit as councillors sparking two by-elections". Manchester Evening News. 2024-09-10. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
- ^ "Lib Dems unveil new top team after election success". BBC News. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
- ^ "Lisa Smart - Hazel Grove". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Lisa Smart MP - Hazel Grove Liberal Democrats". www.lisasmart.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
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- Living people
- Liberal Democrats (UK) MPs for English constituencies
- UK MPs 2024–present
- Alumni of Durham University
- Alumni of London Business School
- Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Hazel Grove
- UK MP for England stubs