Nick Smith
Labour · Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
FULL PROFILENick Smith is the Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, first elected in 2010. He is 66 years old. As a long-serving backbencher without ministerial appointment, they have more freedom to vote independently.
Ideology
Voting Behaviour
Key Interests
Steel industry and manufacturing · Miners' pensions and mining heritage · Government transparency and lobbying · Financial services regulation · Film and creative industries
Positions
Immigration — Supports stricter immigration controls
moderate
European Union — Pro-EU integration despite representing Leave constituency
strong
COVID-19 Response — Supports government pandemic measures
moderate
Financial Regulation — Supports increased taxation on high earners and financial sector
strong
Industrial Policy — Strong advocate for steel industry and manufacturing jobs
strong
Reproductive Rights — Supports easier access to abortion
moderate
Government Transparency — Advocates for openness and accountability in government
strong
Mining Heritage — Champion of miners' pension rights and mining communities
strong
Notable Rebellions
2024-12-03 — Voted against proportional representation, likely reflecting constituency concerns about electoral reform
2021-07-13 — Supported COVID-19 health regulations despite some backbench opposition
Reasoning Style
Pragmatic and constituency-focused, balancing personal convictions with local interests. Uses his business background to scrutinize financial and industrial policy, while maintaining strong party loyalty. Tends to focus on specific, practical issues affecting his constituents rather than broad ideological positions.
Background
Before entering Parliament, Nick Smith worked in the financial services sector, including roles at Reward Funding where he served as group managing director and later CEO, giving him expertise in business and financial matters.