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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Profile: Chloe Smith | Profile: Chloe Smith |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ms Smith worked for another Norfolk MP, former education secretary Gillian Shephard | Ms Smith worked for another Norfolk MP, former education secretary Gillian Shephard |
| When former Norwich North MP Ian Gibson made the surprise announcement he was quitting in June, Chloe Smith already had a head start on her rivals for the job. | When former Norwich North MP Ian Gibson made the surprise announcement he was quitting in June, Chloe Smith already had a head start on her rivals for the job. |
| The Conservative candidate had been selected some 18 months before - while Labour had not been anticipating having to choose a new candidate at all. | |
| But Labour's decision to bar Dr Gibson from standing again over his expenses claims - resented by many in his local party with whom he had been popular, boosted Ms Smith's chances from outsider to favourite. | But Labour's decision to bar Dr Gibson from standing again over his expenses claims - resented by many in his local party with whom he had been popular, boosted Ms Smith's chances from outsider to favourite. |
| Her party poured resources into the campaign - with a succession of shadow cabinet ministers paying visits to the Norfolk constituency, party leader David Cameron made six visits himself. | Her party poured resources into the campaign - with a succession of shadow cabinet ministers paying visits to the Norfolk constituency, party leader David Cameron made six visits himself. |
| Expenses row | Expenses row |
| Ms Smith describes herself as a "Norfolk girl through and through" - having lived in the area since she was three and having been a pupil at a comprehensive in the county. She is now a school governor there. | Ms Smith describes herself as a "Norfolk girl through and through" - having lived in the area since she was three and having been a pupil at a comprehensive in the county. She is now a school governor there. |
| She flags up her experience as a management consultant for Deloitte on her website, saying it has given her "a lot of valuable experience". | She flags up her experience as a management consultant for Deloitte on her website, saying it has given her "a lot of valuable experience". |
| If you're good enough, you're old enough Chloe Smith Tories beat Labour in by-election | If you're good enough, you're old enough Chloe Smith Tories beat Labour in by-election |
| But the Conservatives confirm she has been on secondment to the party's central office - she describes her work there as bringing her business skills to help the party "draw up detailed plans to put our policies into practice". | But the Conservatives confirm she has been on secondment to the party's central office - she describes her work there as bringing her business skills to help the party "draw up detailed plans to put our policies into practice". |
| And in a by-election overshadowed by the MPs' expenses row, her Lib Dem rivals accused her of playing down her links with Tory frontbencher James Clappison, who paid back £3,100 claimed for gardening. The official registers of MPs' interests lists her as one of his staff. | And in a by-election overshadowed by the MPs' expenses row, her Lib Dem rivals accused her of playing down her links with Tory frontbencher James Clappison, who paid back £3,100 claimed for gardening. The official registers of MPs' interests lists her as one of his staff. |
| She has also had Westminster connections for some time - saying on her website she "got into politics when I left school" by working, in her Gap year, for Gillian Shepherd, the former Conservative education secretary whom she describes as a "real mentor". She also worked for former Conservative vice chairman Bernard Jenkin. | She has also had Westminster connections for some time - saying on her website she "got into politics when I left school" by working, in her Gap year, for Gillian Shepherd, the former Conservative education secretary whom she describes as a "real mentor". She also worked for former Conservative vice chairman Bernard Jenkin. |
| When the 27-year-old officially takes her seat as the new Conservative MP for Norwich North after the summer recess, she will be the youngest in the House of Commons - two years younger than the previous "baby of the House", Lib Dem Jo Swinson. | When the 27-year-old officially takes her seat as the new Conservative MP for Norwich North after the summer recess, she will be the youngest in the House of Commons - two years younger than the previous "baby of the House", Lib Dem Jo Swinson. |
| Her response to those who suggest she is too young: "If you're good enough, you're old enough." | Her response to those who suggest she is too young: "If you're good enough, you're old enough." |
| Shadow cabinet minster Theresa May, who ran her by-election campaign, said her age could be a benefit, following the expenses row. | Shadow cabinet minster Theresa May, who ran her by-election campaign, said her age could be a benefit, following the expenses row. |
| "As a young woman I think she shows a different approach to politics and a fresh face for politics, and I think that's what voters want." | "As a young woman I think she shows a different approach to politics and a fresh face for politics, and I think that's what voters want." |