Karin Smyth was elected as Labour MP for Bristol South in May 2015, and currently is a member of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee. She has previously held the position of Shadow Northern Ireland minister and served on the Public Accounts Select Committee. She is also Chair of the Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party and has provided maternity cover as Labour’s Shadow Health and Social Care Minister.

Born in London to Irish parents who came to Britain in the 1950s, Karin moved to Bristol in the 1990s.

Before becoming an MP, Karin worked as a manager in the NHS. As MP for Bristol South, she has campaigned for better bus routes, improving access to local NHS services, working for access to abortion services for women in Northern Ireland, campaigned for assisted dying, safer communities and nation-wide safeguards on trailer safety.

Every year Karin co-hosts a Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair alongside key sectors in Bristol.