But I have to say I'm impressed with all the candidates and I'm actually really pleased that people are seeing it as a showcase.

Baroness Smith of Basildon was Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2010. She was an Assistant Whip from 2001 to 2002 and a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State from 2002 to 2007. Smith lost her seat to the Conservatives at the 2010 general election. She became Shadow Deputy Chief Whip in 2012 and Shadow Leader in 2015. See also: Baroness Smith, Angela Smith, Angela Burdett-Coutts, 1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts, Lord Smith, List of Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and Hathaway Academy.