Chris Smith (UK politician)
Chris Smith is a UK based politician from the Labour Party. He was born in 1951 in Watford, England to mathematics teacher Gladys and Whitehall civil servant Colin, and lived there until he was ten years of age, when the family relocated to Edinburgh as his father was transferred to the Scottish Office. [1]
Smith began his political career as a Councillor in Islington between 1978 to 1983, where he also chaired the housing commitee and was chief Labour whip. In 1997, when Labour wan their election, he was made Secretary of State for heritage, the department that was later renamed Department for Culture, Media and Sport. [2]
Smith opposed military intervention and the War in Iraq. In 2003, he lost his job as minister for Culture, Media and Sport after a series of blunders surrounding the national lottery and sporting events. [3]
From 2003 Smith was Director of the Clore Leadership Programme, which aims to help develop a new generation of leaders for the cultural sector in the UK. He stepped down from this position in July 2008, in order to become Chairman of the Environment Agency. Since July 2007 he has also been the Chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority. From 1992 to 2007 he was President of SERA.[4]
Involvement in the British American Project
Chris Smith is a member of the British American Project (BAP), an organisation to foster closer links between the UK and US. Smith commented on the BAP: "The Project is one of the most valuable and eye-opening experiences I have ever had. It gives me a wonderful perspective on international relations, and an unprecedented opportunity to mix with a highly stimulating and knowledgeable group." [5]
Smith won respect from the left-wing Labour backbenchers by opposing military intervention and the War in Iraq. What fostered this respect from the backbenchers was that the rejection of the plan to go to war was not done as an act of genuine opposition to the proposed invasion. He had chosen to stay true to his Labour beliefs, as opposed to some members of the New Labour cabinet who had clearly been influenced by the British American Project and its neo-liberal agenda [6].
In 2003, he lost his job as minister for Culture, Media and Sport after a series of blunders surrounding the national lottery and sporting events.[7] but was given a life peerage in 2005. [8]
Quotes
On the British American Project:
- "The Project is one of the most valuable and eye-opening experiences I have ever had. It gives me a wonderful perspective on international relations, and an unprecedented opportunity to mix with a highly stimulating and knowledgeable group." [9]
Notes
- ↑ 'Parliamentarians: Chris Smith', web.archive.org/The Knitting Circle website, accessed 27 March, 2009.
- ↑ 'Parliamentarians: Chris Smith', web.archive.org/The Knitting Circle website, accessed 27 March, 2009.
- ↑ 'Profile of Labour's Chris Smith ', BBC website, 14 May, 2003.
- ↑ Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury: Chairman, Environment Agency website, accessed 7 Mar 2010
- ↑ Chris Smith In their own words: What is the British-American Project? Elitism - British American Project for the successor generation; Accessed on 22/03/08
- ↑ George Jones, Toby Helm and Robin Gedye Blair rocked by biggest revolt over war on Iraq Telegraph; 27/02/2003
- ↑ [1] Profile of Labour's Chris Smith; BBC NEWS; Accessed on 22/03/08
- ↑ A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe The Peerage; Accessed on 21/03/08
- ↑ 'Elitism - British American Project - for the successor generation', GEOCITIES website
