Angela Smith Height, Weight, Religion, Net Worth, Age, Biography

About (Profile/Biography):
Angela Evans Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon, is a British Labour and Co-operative politician who has served in both Houses of Parliament. Born on 7 January 1959 in London, she represented Basildon in the House of Commons from 1997 to 2010. She later entered the House of Lords as a life peer and became Labour’s Shadow Leader of the Lords in 2015. Since July 2024, Smith has served as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal. Her career has included ministerial responsibilities for Northern Ireland, communities, education, employment and the voluntary sector, alongside long-standing involvement in parliamentary procedure and public service and civic affairs throughout her career. 
Early Life and Education of Angela Smith
• Angela Smith was born on 7 January 1959 in London and later built her political career around Basildon and Essex politics.
• Smith attended Pitsea Junior School and Chalvedon Comprehensive, then studied Public Administration at Leicester Polytechnic for a BA.
• Before Parliament, she trained as an accountant, worked for the League Against Cruel Sports, then became a political researcher. 
Political Career of Angela Smith
• She was elected MP for Basildon in 1997 and served until 2010, winning three elections as a Labour and Co-operative candidate.
• In government, Smith held junior ministerial roles covering Northern Ireland, communities, education, employment and voluntary-sector affairs.
• She also served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Prime Minister Gordon Brown before becoming Minister for the Third Sector in 2009. 
House of Lords Career of Angela Smith
• After entering the Lords in 2010, she became Labour's Shadow Leader in 2015 and held the role until July 2024.
• Smith has served on several Lords committees, including the Procedure and Privileges Committee and the House of Lords Commission.
• Since 5 July 2024, she has served as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal, overseeing government business there. 
Controversy Around Angela Smith
• In 2009, Smith repaid expenses after council tax and service charges on a second property were found to have been overclaimed.
• The Legg review put her total overclaimed expenses at £1,429, which she returned during the wider parliamentary expenses scandal.
• The episode became part of the scrutiny surrounding MPs' expenses, although the available record concerns repayment rather than a criminal finding. 
Less-Known Facts About Angela Smith
• Smith previously served on Essex County Council and the county Fire Authority, gaining local government experience before entering Westminster.
• She has cited swimming, Coronation Street, political biographies, Oscar Wilde, animal welfare and co-operative interests as personal interests.
• Smith joined the Privy Council in 2009 and remains a Privy Counsellor, reflected by the PC designation after her title. 
Awards and Recognitions Received by Angela Smith
• Smith became a life peer in the 2010 Dissolution Honours and was formally introduced to the House of Lords the following day.
• She was appointed Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords in July 2024 after Labour formed the government.
• Her official interests include patronage of the Airship Heritage Trust and membership of the Hansard Society.