John Smith (Welsh politician)
| John William Patrick Smith | |
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| Member of Parliament for the Vale of Glamorgan |
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In office 2 May 1997 – 12 April 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Walter Sweeney |
| Succeeded by | Alun Cairns |
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In office 4 May 1989 – 9 April 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Raymond Gower |
| Succeeded by | Walter Sweeney |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
17 March 1951 Penarth, Glamorgan, Wales |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Kathleen Smith |
| Relations | John Smith (Welsh Boxer) |
| Children | Melanie Gill, Nathan Smith, Theo Smith. |
| Residence | Vale of Glamorgan |
| Occupation | Retired |
| Profession | Politician, activist, campaigner, lecturer, union representative. |
John William Patrick Smith (born 17 March 1951) is a Welsh Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Vale of Glamorgan from the 1989 by-election to 1992 and from 1997 to the 2010 general elections.
Born in Penarth, he attended Fairfield County Primary School in Penarth. Subsequent to him passing the 'Eleven Plus Exam' he attended Penarth County Grammar School (which later became the comprehensive Stanwell School). He served for a while in the Royal Air Force, then worked as a carpenter and joiner for Vale Borough Council from 1971-76. He became a mature student in 1976, studying at the Gwent College of Higher Education, then went to University College of Wales, Cardiff (now Cardiff University) graduating with a BSc in 1981. He was then a university tutor until 1985. From 1985-89, he was a senior lecturer in Business Studies. He became a campaign manager for Gwent Image Partnership, becoming chief executive from 1992 after he lost his seat by only 12 votes.
Having contested Vale of Glamorgan at the 1987 general election, he was first elected for the seat in a 1989 by-election, lost it to the Conservatives in 1992 by a very narrow margin, and regained it in 1997. He was re-elected in 2001 and 2005, and served as a member of the Defence Select Committee. He spent much of his time dealing with concerns over the future of RAF St Athan. On the issue that is Iraq, Smith opposed any form of military action, and was deeply saddened by the parliamentary vote that supported military action in Iraq.
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