The Right Honourable Andrew Smith MP |
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Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | |
In office 29 May 2002 – 8 September 2004 |
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Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Alistair Darling |
Succeeded by | Alan Johnson |
Chief Secretary to the Treasury | |
In office 11 October 1999 – 29 May 2002 |
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Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Alan Milburn |
Succeeded by | Paul Boateng |
Minister of State for Employment and Disability Rights | |
In office 2 May 1997 – 11 October 1999 |
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Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Eric Forth |
Succeeded by | Tessa Jowell |
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport | |
In office 25 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 |
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Leader | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Clare Short |
Succeeded by | George Young |
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury | |
In office 21 July 1994 – 25 July 1996 |
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Leader | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Harriet Harman |
Succeeded by | Alistair Darling |
Member of Parliament for Oxford East |
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Assumed office 11 June 1987 |
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Preceded by | Steven Norris |
Majority | 15,280 (30.1%) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Wokingham, Berkshire, England |
1 February 1951
Political party | Labour |
Spouse(s) | Val Miles (1976–2015) |
Alma mater | St John's College, Oxford |
Website | Official website |
Andrew David Smith (born 1 February 1951) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Oxford East since 1987. He served in the Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 1999 to 2002 and then as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2002 to 2004.
He was educated at Reading School and St John's College, Oxford, where he gained a BA and Bachelor of Philosophy. He was the Member Relations Officer for Oxford and Swindon Co-op Society from 1979-87. He became an Oxford City Councillor in 1976, leaving the council in 1987. He contested Oxford East in 1983.
Smith has been the Member of Parliament 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 6 September 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%.