Andrew Smith is the
Labour MP for
Oxford East, a position that he acquired in
1987, having previously contested it in
1983. In
1999 he was appointed
Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Born in 1954, he was educated at Reading Grammar School and then St. John's College Oxford. When Labour was not in power he was shadow education minister between 1989 and 1992, a shadow Treasury and economic spokesman from 1992 to 1994, shadow Chief Secretary from 1994 to 1996 and shadow Transport Secretary from 1996 to May 1997.
He lives in his constituency in Oxford, and was instrumental in the Welfare to Work initiative. He was involved in local politics before becoming an MP.