Liz Smith was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2007 and was re-elected in 2011, 2016 and in 2021. She is one of four Conservative Regional Members for Mid Scotland and Fife. Following her long-serving role as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, she became Chief Whip in February 2020. Following the 2021 election, Liz took over the role of Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy and chairs two cross party committees: those on Colleges and Universities, and Sport.
Liz lives at Madderty in South Perthshire. She was educated at George Watson’s College and holds an Honours Degree in Economics and Politics and a Diploma in Education from the University of Edinburgh.
She returned to George Watson’s College in 1983 to teach Economics and Modern Studies and in 1992 became a Fellow Commoner at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge whilst she undertook some academic research in politics. In 1998 she left teaching to work as Political Advisor to Sir Malcolm Rifkind and between autumn 2001 and autumn 2003 she was Head of the Chairman’s Office in Scottish Conservative Central Office.
Outside politics, Liz is a keen sportswoman with particular interest in cricket and hill-walking. She won seven caps with the Scottish Ladies’ Cricket XI, is a former President of the Scottish Women’s Cricket Association, and is an official Munroist on account of her completing all of the 282 peaks in Scotland over 3,000ft. She has also taken part in several mountaineering expeditions to the Alps and Himalayas.
Liz’s other interests include travel, photography, listening to classical music and cooking and writing (joint author of “Outdoor Adventures” published in October 2003 and the history of George Watson’s Ladies’ College published in autumn 2006).