Chloe Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable Chloe Smith
Official portrait, 2020
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
In office 28 April 2023 – 20 July 2023
Prime Minister	Rishi Sunak
Preceded by	Michelle Donelan
Succeeded by	Michelle Donelan
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In office 6 September 2022 – 25 October 2022
Prime Minister	Liz Truss
Preceded by	Thérèse Coffey
Succeeded by	Mel Stride
Junior ministerial offices Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health In office 16 September 2021 – 6 September 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson Preceded by Justin Tomlinson Succeeded by Claire Coutinho Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution In office 9 January 2018 – 16 September 2021 Prime Minister Theresa May Boris Johnson Preceded by Chris Skidmore Succeeded by Nigel Adams In office 4 September 2012 – 6 October 2013 Prime Minister David Cameron Preceded by Mark Harper Succeeded by Greg Clark Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland In office 14 June 2017 – 9 January 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May Preceded by Kris Hopkins Succeeded by Shailesh Vara Economic Secretary to the Treasury In office 14 October 2011 – 4 September 2012 Prime Minister David Cameron Preceded by Justine Greening Succeeded by Sajid Javid
Member of Parliament for Norwich North
In office 23 July 2009 – 30 May 2024
Preceded by	Ian Gibson
Succeeded by	Alice Macdonald
Personal details
Born	Chloe Rebecca Smith (1982-05-17) 17 May 1982 (age 43) Ashford, Kent, England
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Sandy McFadzean ​ (m. 2013)​
Children	2
Alma mater	University of York
Website	www.chloesmith.org.uk

Chloe Rebecca Smith (born 17 May 1982) is a British politician from the Conservative Party. For 15 years, from 2009 to 2024, she was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Norwich North. An MP is a person elected to represent their local area in the House of Commons.

During her time in government, she held several important jobs. She was the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in late 2022 and briefly served as the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology in 2023. A Secretary of State is a senior minister in charge of a government department.

Early Life and Education

Chloe Smith was born in Ashford, Kent, in 1982. When she was three, her family moved to Norfolk, where she grew up and went to local schools.

After finishing school, she took a year off to work for Gillian Shephard, a former politician. She then went to the University of York to study English Literature. After graduating, she worked as a management consultant for a company called Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. In this job, she gave advice to businesses and government departments.

In 2007, the Conservative Party selected her to be their candidate for the Norwich North area in the next general election.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 2009, the MP for Norwich North, Ian Gibson, resigned. This meant a special election, called a by-election, had to be held to choose a new MP.

Chloe Smith won this election for the Conservative Party. At the time, she was the youngest member of the House of Commons. She was re-elected as the MP for Norwich North in every general election until she decided not to run in 2024.

Career in Government

As an MP, Chloe Smith was given several jobs in the government, known as ministerial roles. These roles were under three different Prime Ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson.

Working with David Cameron

In 2011, Smith became the Economic Secretary to the Treasury. This made her the youngest minister in the government at that time. Her job involved working on the country's economy.

In 2012, she was appointed to a role in the Cabinet Office, which helps run the government. She left this role in 2013 to spend more time working for the people in her constituency of Norwich North.

For her work on a project called "Norwich for Jobs," which helped young people find jobs and apprenticeships, she won an award in 2014.

Working with Theresa May

Smith in 2018

After the 2017 general election, Smith was appointed as a minister for Northern Ireland.

In 2018, she became the Parliamentary Secretary for the Constitution. This job involves matters related to the UK's laws and how the government is run.

Working with Boris Johnson

When Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, Smith continued in her role working on the constitution. In 2020, she was promoted to Minister of State, a more senior ministerial position.

In 2021, she became the Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health. In this role, she focused on issues related to employment and supporting people with disabilities.

Serving in the Cabinet

In September 2022, the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, appointed Smith as the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. This is one of the most senior roles in the government, making her a member of the Cabinet.

After Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022, Smith left her cabinet position and returned to being a regular MP, also known as a "backbencher."

In November 2022, Smith announced that she would not be a candidate in the 2024 general election, choosing to step down from Parliament.

Before she left, she briefly returned to a top government job. From April to July 2023, she served as the temporary Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology while another minister was on maternity leave.

Political Views

Chloe Smith has shared her views on many topics. She has supported lower taxes and the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

Before the 2016 referendum on whether the UK should leave the European Union, Smith was against Brexit. However, she later supported the government's policy to leave the EU.

Personal Life

Outside of politics, Smith enjoys volunteering and raising money for charities like Cancer Research UK. She has said she is an atheist.

In 2013, she married Sandy McFadzean. They have two children, a son born in 2016 and a daughter born in 2019.

In November 2020, Smith shared that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. After receiving treatment, including chemotherapy and surgery, she announced in June 2021 that she was cancer-free.

See also

In Spanish: Chloe Smith para niños