Authority control databases: People
The Lord Smith of Leigh | |
|---|---|
| Executive Leader of Wigan Council | |
| In office 1991 – 10 May 2018 | |
| Succeeded by | David Molyneux |
| Councillor for Leigh West on Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council | |
| In office 1978–2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Richard Charles Smith 24 July 1945 Lowton, Lancashire, England, U.K. |
| Died | 2 August 2021 (aged 76) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | LSE |
Peter Richard Charles Smith, Baron Smith of Leigh (24 July 1945 – 2 August 2021) was a British Labour local politician and life peer.
Peter Smith was educated at Bolton School before going up to LSE where he graduated in economics. Whilst serving as Leader of Wigan Council and undertaking his duties at the House of Lords, he also completed an MSc in Urban Studies at the University of Salford. [1]
Smith had been a member of Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council since 1978 and was chairman of its finance committee from 1982 to 1991; from 1991 to 2018, he served as Leader of the Council.[2] Created a Life Peer on 5 August 1999 as Baron Smith of Leigh, of Wigan in the County of Greater Manchester,[3] since 2005 he has been treasurer of the Rugby League Group and, since 2006, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party's Departmental Committee for Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. He was the chairman of Local Government Leadership, a body seeking to develop leadership skills in local government.[4]
He was chair of The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) from 2000 to 2021. He chaired the successor Greater Manchester Combined Authority from its creation in 2011 until the appointment of the interim Mayor in 2015.[5]
Lord Smith was married with one daughter, the artist Anna F C Smith.[6]
On 3 August 2021, it was announced that he had died at the age of 76.[7]
