John William Patrick Smith (born March 7, 1951) is a Welsh Labour Party politician, and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Vale of Glamorgan.

Early life

Born in Penarth, Smith attended Fairfield County Primary School in Penarth then Penarth County Grammar School (became the comprehensive Stanwell School in 1973) on Archer Road. He served for a while in the Royal Air Force, then worked as a carpenter and joiner for Vale Borough Council from 1971-6. He became a mature student in 1976, studying at the Gwent College of Higher Education, then went to University College of Wales, Cardiff where he gained a BSc in Economics in 1981. He became a university tutor until 1985. From 1985-9, 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.

Parliamentary career

He contested Vale of Glamorgan in 1987.

He was first elected to the seat in a 1989 by-election, lost it to the Conservatives in 1992 by a very narrow margin, and regained the seat in the 1997 general election. He was re-elected in 2001 and 2005, and served as a member of the Defence Select Committee in 2005. He has spent much of his time with the future of RAF St Athan.

Personal life

He married Kathleen Mulvaney in 1971 in Liverpool. They have two sons and a daughter.

External links

• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: John Smith MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - John Smith MP
• Vale of Glamorgan Labour
• BBC politics

News items

• RAF St Athan in March 2005
• RAF St Athan in October 2004
• RAF St Athan in July 2003
• Cardiff Airport in December 2002