Britain’s newest Jewish MP has told of the emotional moment when she entered the House of Commons chamber for the first time after being elected.
But Ruth Smeeth said her victory in Stoke-on-Trent North felt “bittersweet” after Labour lost the election.
She won with 15,429 votes – a majority of 4,836 – five years after losing in the Burton-on-Trent constituency.
“My result came through at 9.30am on Friday, it was a very, very late one,” she said. “I was selected by the local party in April last year so it has been a 12-month campaign.
“It’s an incredible and unique experience to go through. You are asking people to put their faith in you and it’s a privilege when they choose to do so.”
Ms Smeeth described the “whirlwind” experience of going straight from her constituency’s count to seeing Ed Miliband resign as party leader, before she travelled to Westminster for the first time as MP.
“I still haven’t got an office so I’m squatting with a colleague for a while,” she said. “I arrived at 9.30am on Monday and my pass was waiting for me. I have a telephone number, but I do not have an actual phone. It’s surreal.
“We have had our photograph taken. We have had a tour. It’s an incredible, extraordinary thing. I walked into the chamber for the first and it was very emotional. It won’t feel real until I’m sworn in at the end of next week.”
Ms Smeeth was born in Scotland but grew up in Bristol, where she celebrated her batmitzvah at the city’s progressive synagogue. She also taught at the cheder there and describes herself as culturally Jewish.
She has a long-track record of anti-fascism work and was a leading figure in the battle to combat the British National Party in Barking and Dagenham. Employed by the Community Security Trust, she was for a time seconded to the Board of Deputies where she co-ordinated anti-BNP efforts.
Ms Smeeth was also a deputy director at the Hope Not Hate anti-racism group.
