Julian Smith was first elected as the Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon in 2010, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 23,694.
The constituency of Skipton and Ripon is a large rural constituency that covers the south western portion of North Yorkshire. Covering a large area of the Yorkshire Dales, including two of Yorkshire’s three highest peaks, this seat contains the market towns of Masham, Pateley Bridge, Settle and the former mill town Skipton. It also includes the city of Ripon, known for its Cathedral and its Race course, and itself the third smallest city in England. Ripon still contains its own grammar school. This is a long standing safe Conservative seat which has been held by the Party since the First World War.
Smith was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland between 2019 and 2020, during which he oversaw a return to power sharing in Northern Ireland, and oversaw the passing of same sex marriage legislation and changes to the abortion laws in Northern Ireland. He was sacked by Boris Johnson in early 2020.
Smith previously served in the Government Whips office between 2016 and 2019, serving as the Government Chief Whip during the Brexit controversy, between 2017 and 2019. He was formerly the Government Deputy Chief Whip, a Whip, and Assistant Whip between 2015 and 2017.
Located on the Tory left, Smith has been described by the Financial Times as being “opposed” to both the “tone and style” of the Johnson government.
Julian Smith was born in 1971 in Stirling, Scotland. He was educated at a local comprehensive and received a sixth form bursary to Millfield School, Somerset. He then attended Birmingham University.
In his younger days, Smith played squash at an international level. He coached a squash team in Perpignan, France for a year prior to attending university.
Prior to being elected to Westminster, Smith was an entrepreneur and set up Arq International in 1999, an executive recruitment company. According to the Register of Members Interests he is currently external adviser to MJM Marine Ltd, a company that is involved in marine refurbishment and fitting.
Email: julian.smith.mp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: juliansmithmp.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulianSmithMP
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Julian-Smith-MP/
