New Faces in Parliament1. North Northumberland
History was made in the July 2024 General Election when the North Northumberland constituency (previously Berwick upon Tweed, with the addition of Morpeth and Pegswood) returned a Labour MP for the first time: David Smith winning the seat with a majority of over 5000 votes.
David was born and grew up in Paisley. Graduating from Glasgow University in 1998 with a degree in Politics and Modern History, he later took further courses in Peace and Reconciliation Studies in American University (Washington, DC) and an M.Phil also in Reconciliation Studies at Trinity College, Dublin.
In temporary employment after university, David gained insight into the struggles of people living on welfare when switchboard operator for the Benefit Agency in Glasgow.
His career owes much to both his Christian faith and Labour values, and a commitment to speaking-up for those unable to speak for themselves, which began in childhood. David's parents gave lodging to Eastern European political dissidents during their speaking tours of Britain, and listening to their kitchen-table discussions he learned that freedom of political and religious expression was something not universally permissible. While in America David gained valuable experience with an advocacy programme. The charity sector's dynamism and flexibility appealed to David as he sought a career consistent with his beliefs.
His Washington DC studies having concentrated on the sectarian division in Northern Ireland, upon returning to the UK David designed, established and ran ‘Preparing Youth for Peace’ for the province's largest protestant church: the Presbyterian Church of Ireland. This innovative programme trained young protestant people in peacemaking practices, encouraging them to engage with their Catholic peers in new ways. During this time David gained a deeper understanding of the Troubles through contact with paramilitaries, victims and politicians from both sides of the divide.
At Tearfund, an agency aiming to tackle poverty, David supervised its volunteer activity throughout the northern part of the UK in raising awareness and funds for the charity's work in the developing world. David himself spoke to church and community groups on issues such as water and sanitation, climate breakdown, food security, disaster response and HIV and Aids. Leading volunteers on a field trip to Liberia and Sierra Leone gave David an interest in international development programmes.
For the Bible Society, as Head of International Programmes, David ran operations raising funds to assist in translation of the Bible, enabling it to be read, often for the first time, in many of the 145 countries where the society is active. He recalls most proudly its role in teaching Cambodian children to read; helping to destigmatise people in sub-Saharan Africa living with HIV and Aids; and in China and the African Union bringing together political leaders to examine the meaning of integrity in public services.
The work of Oasis Community Housing (a Christian housing and support charity), where David was most recently CEO, exemplified his belief that we best help others in need by walking beside them on their road to recovery.
Since being elected last year David has been very active in meeting as many of his constituents as possible, familiarising himself with their needs and those of the area as a whole. While recognising that these may be typical of the problems affecting the country (e.g the cost of living crisis, weakened public services, an unstable economy with little growth), David realises that North Northumberland has particular requirements. He believes that it should be as well served by public services as any city although it sometimes feels like it draws the short straw because it is a rural constituency. He thinks its children should have the best standard of education, including SEND, but sometimes they have to travel long distances because schools are over-subscribed. David sees no lack of house-building across the constituency but questions whether it is genuinely affordable.
David believes that the people of North Northumberland deserve to be hopeful about their future and that of their children, and he aims to be part of the effort to restore that hope.
Paul Thompson
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/david-smith-mp-announced-as-uk-special-envoy-for-freedom-of-religion-or-belief