Julie Smith, Baroness Smith of Newnham

Julie Elizabeth Smith, Baroness Smith of Newnham (born 1 June 1969) is an academic specialising in European politics and a Liberal Democrat politician. From 2003 to 2015, she was a local councillor on Cambridge City Council. Since September 2014, she has been a life peer and a member of the House of Lords.

The Right Honourable

The Baroness Smith of Newnham
Official parliamentary photo of Baroness Smith of Newnham
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
12 September 2014
Life Peerage
Personal details
Born (1969-06-01) 1 June 1969
Political partyLiberal Democrat
EducationMerchant Taylors' Girls' School
Alma materBrasenose College, Oxford
St Antony's College, Oxford

Early life

Smith was born on 1 June 1969.[1] From 1980 to 1987, she was educated at Merchant Taylors' Girls' School, an all-girls selective independent school based in Great Crosby, Merseyside.[2] After taking a gap year, she studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Brasenose College, Oxford and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. She then undertook postgraduate study in politics at St Antony's College, Oxford, graduating with a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree.[1][3] Her doctoral thesis was titled "Direct elections to the European Parliament: a reevaluation" and was submitted in 1995.[4] Having been awarded a Hanseatic Scholarship, she undertook further study in Hamburg from 1995 to 1997.[5]

Career

Academic career

Smith began her academic career lecturing in the International Relations and European Studies Department of the Central European University, an English-language university in Budapest, Hungary.[3] In 1997, she joined the University of Cambridge as a lecturer in European politics.[2] She was later promoted to senior lecturer in International Relations and became a Fellow of Robinson College.[3] From 1999 to 2003, she was additionally the head of the European Programme at Chatham House.[5] She was made a Reader in European Politics in October 2018.[6]

Political career

Smith is a Liberal Democrat politician. From 2003 to May 2015, she was a local councillor representing Newnham on Cambridge City Council.[7][8][6] She is also a vice-chair of the Liberal Democrats Federal Policy Committee.[9]

In August 2014, it was announced that Smith would be made a life peer.[10] On 12 September 2014 she was created Baroness Smith of Newnham, of Crosby in the County of Merseyside.[11] She made her maiden speech in the House of Lords on the same day.[12]

Involvement in EU Referendum

As demonstrated by the topic of Smith's maiden speech, she is firmly convinced of the benefits that the EU brings to the UK.

She has now taken an active involvement in Cambridge for Europe, a campaign which wants to spread a positive message regarding the UK's continued involvement in the EU.[13] Smith is one of the group's leading patrons.[14]

Selected works
  • Citizens' Europe?: European Elections and the Role of the European Parliament. Royal Institute of International Affairs. 1994. ISBN 0905031849.
  • Voice of the people: European Parliament in the 1990s. Royal Institute of International Affairs. 1995. ISBN 0905031881.
  • Europe's elected parliament (Contemporary European Studies). Sheffield Academic Press. 1999. ISBN 1850759995.

References
  1. Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidates Association (2011). Who's Who in the Liberal Democrats. The Quays, Bewdley DD12 2DX: PCA Books. ISBN 978-1-907046-27-8.CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. "Old Girl Julie Smith becomes Baroness Smith of Newnham". Merchant Taylors' Schools. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  3. "Dr Julie Smith". The Department of Politics and International Studies. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  4. Smith, Julie (1995). "Direct elections to the European Parliament: a reevaluation". E-Thesis Online Service. The British Library Board. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  5. "Dr Julie Smith". libdems.org.uk. Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  6. "Baroness Smith of Newnham". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  7. "The Lib Dem team". Newnham Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  8. Colin Rosenstiel. "Cambridge City Council Elections – Newnham Ward". Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  9. "Federal Policy Committee". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  10. "Karren Brady and Sir Stuart Rose among new life peers". BBC News. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  11. "Crown Office Notice 2197486". The London Gazette. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  12. Innes, Lesley (25 November 2014). "Baroness Smith of Newnham makes her Maiden Speech in the House of Lords". Cambridge Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  13. "Cambridge For Europe". Cambridge For Europe. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  14. "Cambridge For Europe". Cambridge For Europe. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
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