Lisa Smart

Smart previously served as a councillor on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, representing Bredbury Green and Romiley from 2016 to 2024. She was Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Stockport Council until 2022, stepping down to concentrate on winning at the next general election.{{Cite web |last= |last2= |last3= |last4= |first4= |last5= |date=2022-01-14 |title=Lib Dem deputy stands down to focus on winning 'target' seat at general election |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/lib-dem-deputy-stands-down-22758251 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}

After Andrew Stunell stood down as Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove, Smart was selected as the candidate to contest the 2015 General Election, losing to Conservative William Wragg.{{Cite web |title=UK Parliament election results: Election for the constituency of Hazel Grove on 7 May 2015 |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/274 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=UK Parliament election results |language=en-GB}}

Smart stood again in 2017 and 2019, eventually gaining the seat in the 2024 general election.

One of the 72 Liberal Democrat MPs elected in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, Lisa Smart won Hazel Grove from the Conservatives. She was the first Liberal Democrat MP elected there since Andrew Stunell in 2010.

Historically being held by either the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives, the 2024 general election saw the Labour Party come second for the first time in the seat's history.{{Election box begin no change|title=General election 2024: Hazel Grove{{cite web |title=Election results for Hazel Grove |url= https://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=860&RPID=90811453 |publisher=Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council |access-date=5 July 2024 |date=9 July 2024}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Lisa Smart|votes=17,328|percentage=37.7}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Claire Vibert|votes=10,828|percentage=23.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Paul Athans|votes=9,011|percentage=19.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Reform UK|candidate=John Kelly|votes=6,955|percentage=15.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Graham Reid|votes=1,763|percentage=3.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)|candidate=Tim O'Rourke|votes=113|percentage=0.2}}

{{Election box majority no change|votes=6,500|percentage=14.1}}

{{Election box turnout no change|votes=45,998|percentage=63.2}}

{{Election box new boundary win||winner=Liberal Democrats (UK)}}

{{Election box end}}During the 2024 election campaign, Smart was recorded joking that a person with a Liverpool accent who is not from the area was "nicking (stealing) stuff" while canvassing. The comment was criticized for reinforcing derogatory stereotypes about people from Liverpool.{{cite news |title=Lib Dem candidate sorry for Liverpool 'nicking stuff' comment |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd11xprd6ryo |access-date=10 July 2024 |work=BBC News |date=26 June 2024}}

Following her election to the House of Commons, Smart stood down as a Councillor in Stockport in September 2024.{{Cite web |last= |last2= |last3= |last4= |first4= |last5= |date=2024-09-10 |title=Stockport MPs quit as councillors sparking two by-elections |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/stockport-mps-quit-councillors-weeks-29903106 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey appointed Smart as Home Affairs spokesperson in September 2024{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=Lib Dems unveil new top team after election success |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz04mzvm20zo |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

She grew up on Winston Avenue, in Lytham St Annes, and attended St Bede's Catholic High School, Lytham St Annes.West Lancashire Evening Gazette Tuesday 4 April 1995, page 9

Smart graduated with a degree in mathematics from Durham University, and also holds an MBA from the London Business School.{{cite web |title=Lisa Smart - Hazel Grove |url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/candidates/hazel-grove |website=Liberal Democrats |access-date=5 July 2024 |language=en-gb}}

According to her personal website, Smart has worked as a volunteer in her local community, "serving as a trustee for the New Horizons Canal Boat for disabled people and their carers in Marple, working as a volunteer for the Woodley & Romiley Towpath Team, and being a trustee of the Barrack Hill Education Trust."{{Cite web |title=Lisa Smart MP - Hazel Grove Liberal Democrats |url=https://www.lisasmart.org.uk/about |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.lisasmart.org.uk}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:UK MPs 2024–present

Category:Alumni of Durham University

Category:Alumni of London Business School

Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies

Category:People from Lytham St Annes

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Hazel Grove

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