Julie Smith, Baroness Smith of Newnham explained

The Baroness Smith of Newnham
Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
Office:Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Term Start:12 September 2014
Life Peerage
Birth Date: January df=y
Party:Liberal Democrat
Education:Merchant Taylors' Girls' School
Alma Mater:Brasenose College, Oxford
St Antony's College, Oxford
Office3:Member of Cambridge City Council for Newnham
Term Start3:May 2003
Term End3:May 2015

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.

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 private school based in Great Crosby, Merseyside. 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. Her doctoral supervisor was William Wallace, and her doctoral thesis was titled "Direct elections to the European Parliament: a reevaluation" and was submitted in 1995.[2] Having been awarded a Hanseatic Scholarship, she undertook further study in Hamburg from 1995 to 1997.

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. In 1997, she joined the University of Cambridge as a lecturer in European politics.[3] She was later promoted to senior lecturer in International Relations and became a Fellow of Robinson College.[4] 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. In 2021, she was appointed Professor of European Politics.[6] [7]

Political career

Smith is a Liberal Democrat politician. From 2003 to May 2015, she was a local councillor representing Newnham on Cambridge City Council.[8] [9] [10] She is also a vice-chair of the Liberal Democrats Federal Policy Committee.[11]

In August 2014, it was announced that Smith would be made a life peer.[12] On 12 September 2014 she was created Baroness Smith of Newnham, of Crosby in the County of Merseyside.[13] She made her maiden speech in the House of Lords on 25 November 2014, during a debate on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union.[14]

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".[15] Smith is one of the group's leading patrons.[16]

Selected works

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidates Association . Who's Who in the Liberal Democrats. 2011 . PCA Books . The Quays, Bewdley DD12 2DX . 978-1-907046-27-8 .
  2. Smith . Julie . Direct elections to the European Parliament: a reevaluation . E-Thesis Online Service . The British Library Board . 13 July 2019 . 1995. Ph.D .
  3. Web site: Old Girl Julie Smith becomes Baroness Smith of Newnham. Merchant Taylors' Schools. 6 September 2015.
  4. Web site: Dr Julie Smith. The Department of Politics and International Studies. October 2013. University of Cambridge. 8 August 2014.
  5. Web site: Dr Julie Smith. libdems.org.uk. Liberal Democrats. 6 September 2015.
  6. Web site: Professor Julie Smith . Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) . University of Cambridge . 7 November 2023 . en.
  7. Web site: Julie Smith: Brexit negotiations have been damaging for both sides . revdem.ceu.edu . Review of Democracy . 7 November 2023 . 19 November 2021.
  8. Web site: The Lib Dem team. Newnham Liberal Democrats. 8 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140810232120/http://newnhamlibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk/the-lib-dem-team/. 10 August 2014. dead.
  9. Web site: Cambridge City Council Elections – Newnham Ward. Colin Rosenstiel. 13 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140913202319/http://www.crosenstiel.webspace.virginmedia.com/camelect/citynwh.htm#0406. 13 September 2014. dead.
  10. Web site: Baroness Smith of Newnham. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 6 September 2015.
  11. Web site: Federal Policy Committee. Liberal Democrats. 13 September 2014.
  12. News: Karren Brady and Sir Stuart Rose among new life peers. 8 August 2014. BBC News. 8 August 2014.
  13. News: Crown Office Notice 2197486. 18 September 2014. The London Gazette. 17 September 2014.
  14. United Kingdom . EU: UK Membership . House of Lords . 25 November 2014 . 757 . 821 . 822 . Baroness Smith of Newnham .
  15. Web site: Cambridge For Europe. Cambridge For Europe. 17 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160116111527/http://www.cambridgeforeurope.co.uk/about/. 16 January 2016. dead.
  16. Web site: Cambridge For Europe. Cambridge For Europe. 17 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160115182437/http://www.cambridgeforeurope.co.uk/about/steering-committee/. 15 January 2016. dead.