Rt Hon Chloe Smith MP to stand down at next election

 

Rt Hon Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, has announced she will stand down at the next general election. 

 

Chloe has represented Norwich North since 2009, winning the marginal seat five times. In 2023 she will become the longest serving MP for either Norwich constituency in modern history. If the term ends in 2024, she will have served for 15 years. 

 

Chloe is most proud of founding the Norwich for Jobs project, helping thousands of young people into work in the city, and securing major investment such as the new carriages on the Norwich-London train line while co-chairing the Great Eastern Mainline Taskforce.  

 

In Westminster, Chloe has worked alongside five Conservative Prime Ministers as well as Labour’s Gordon Brown. She has been one of the longest serving ministers, having joined the Government in May 2010 when she may have been one of the youngest ministers since Pitt. Continuing her passion for helping people into jobs, she served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions after stints in five departments.  

 

She has been proud to work cross-party such as with Rosie Cooper MP in putting the British Sign Language Act into law; for Chloe this was significant because of a deaf family member. 

 

When first elected, aged 27, she was the youngest MP in the Commons. Now 40, she has also had her family while an MP - and a bout with breast cancer. 

 

Chloe states:  

“I have been honoured to be Norwich North’s MP. It’s a fantastic job for a fantastic place, and it’s a particular privilege to be able to represent Norwich and Norfolk where I come from. 

 

“I am grateful to the thousands of Norwich citizens who placed their trust in me so many times.  I would also like to thank my team of volunteers who work so hard alongside me to help the community, and who have been so supportive, including during tough personal times. 

 

“I hope I’ve been able to make a difference, locally and nationally.  In 2024, after fifteen years of service, it will be the right time to step back, for me and my young family.” 

 

Rt Hon Baroness Shephard of Northwold, whom Chloe has described as her mentor, having been inspired by her as a teenager in South West Norfolk, said: 

“Chloe Smith has been an outstanding Member of Parliament for Norwich North since her election in 2009, when at only 27 she became the youngest member of the House of Commons.  Since then she has served as a minister in the Treasury, the Cabinet Office, as Minister for Disabled People, and finally as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.  She has worked tirelessly on behalf of her constituents in Norwich North, and in Norwich and Norfolk as a whole, while at the same time bringing up a young family with her husband and successfully fighting breast cancer.  She will be enormously missed by the many, many people she has helped in her time as a local MP, by her constituency members and her local colleagues. Nationally, her quiet competent presence will also be greatly missed. We will all miss her support and loyal friendship.”   

 

Simon Jones, Chairman of the Norwich Conservatives, said:  

“We are very sad that Chloe has decided to step down in 2024.  She has been a loyal servant for the people of Norwich North and has worked hard to represent them in Parliament.  I do not know of an MP who is as diligent as Chloe;  even while she was being treated for cancer she continued to work hard for the residents of Norwich.  We will select a strong Conservative candidate for the 2024 General Election.  Whoever is elected to follow her will have a hard job to live up to the standards Chloe has set.” 

 

Patrick Peal, who worked with Chloe while CEO of the EAAA in the Norwich North constituency, said: 

“Chloe has served her constituency and the country very well by working hard, listening carefully, ensuring she is fully informed and being prepared to make and follow through sometimes difficult decisions.  I am grateful for her active support for EAAA which helped to secure a significant government grant in 2016. She has encouraged work opportunities and apprenticeships for young people in Norfolk.  I wish her well in the future.” 

 

Tim Sweeting, past CEO of YMCA Norfolk, for which Chloe has been Parliamentary Patron, said: 

“When I was CEO of YMCA Norfolk, I greatly enjoyed working with Chloe in our shared aim of creating opportunities for local young people to thrive.  I appreciated her enthusiasm to engage with, and for, young people, as well as the charities that support them.  Through my involvement with Norwich for Jobs, I saw Chloe’s determination to remove barriers that stopped young people achieving their potential, which she also fought for at a national level as a YMCA Parliamentary Patron.  I wish her all the very best in this next season.” 

 

Justin Harris, co-chair of Norwich for Jobs, said: 

“Chloe has been instrumental in the success of Norwich for Jobs and as a result has helped so many young people get the knowledge, skills and experience they need to secure employment.  Over the years Chloe has worked tirelessly to champion employment opportunities that provide mutual benefit for local employers and the young people taking steps into the work place.  I'm really proud that Norwich for Jobs has been able to work with countless young people who have benefitted as a direct result of Chloe’s vision and on their behalf I extend sincere thanks and best wishes to Chloe for her future.  Norwich for Jobs will continue to engage with local employers and the young people in our community to fulfil Chloe’s vision.”

 

Daniel Thrower, chief executive of the Wensum Trust and headteacher of Arden Grove School with which Chloe has worked closely, said: 

“Chloe has been a very supportive advocate and good friend for all Hellesdon schools in the Wensum Trust for well over a decade. She has supported on a number of ventures varying in scale including notably and recently establishing the Specialist Social, Emotional and Mental Health provision at Arden Grove.  Chloe understands the challenges our schools  face and always puts the children, families and communities first. She has linked the Trust to government ministers to help aid support as well as to celebrate our initiatives. This has been so much appreciated. Chloe is an MP we can go to for support and guidance, knowing that what we get is deep rooted in educational values that benefit all.” 

 

Labour MP Rosie Cooper, who completed the British Sign Language Act with Chloe, has said she “loved working with” Chloe, who she described as “so straightforward and honest”. 

 

PLEASE NOTE: 

 

In the coming months Norwich Conservatives will run a process to select the next Conservative candidate for Norwich North. The seat will change to new constituency boundaries at the next election, expected to include the village of Drayton. 

 

Chloe will continue to work for all her constituents up until the next election. Constituents should continue to get in touch in the normal way, to chloe@chloesmith.org.uk or 01603 414756.