1st October2025
Hazel Grove MP Lisa Smart has announced she is stepping up to become the Liberal Democrats’ Cabinet Office Spokesperson, calling the move “a huge honour” and “a more strategic role” ahead of the next General Election.
The announcement, posted on X, was accompanied by a polished photo and party branding. Ms Smart framed the appointment as a key role in helping leader Ed Davey shape national strategy.
But while Westminster celebrates her rise, many in Romiley are asking: promotion for what?
From Home Affairs to Cabinet Office
Until now, Smart was the party’s Home Affairs Spokesperson, responsible for policing, immigration, and criminal justice. Those are weighty issues — ones where leadership is tested not by soundbites but by hard questions, accountability and persistence.
Locally, however, her time in that role has attracted criticism.
The Shadow of the Parnell Case
The controversial case of Michael Parnell remains a touchstone for many. Residents say the case drained thousands of hours of police, CPS, courts and prison resources, yet achieved little justice and left scars in the community. Families and campaigners who raised concerns insist their pleas for accountability were brushed aside. Smart was working in Andrew Stunell MP’s office at the time.
Some accuse Smart of being too quick to defend the system from Westminster’s green benches while ignoring legitimate frustrations on the ground in Hazel Grove. “She talks about civil liberties in Parliament,” one resident remarked, “but when we protested locally, her office treated us like an irritation, not constituents with valid concerns, and two police cars and a van with flashing lights and sirens were called out twice – the police left satisfied that no offence had taken place (standing outside her office peacefully with an A4 paper sign), but were called back 10 minutes later again as an emergency.”
Gloss Over Substance?
Critics suggest that being moved to the Cabinet Office brief is less about competence and more about party image. “It looks like a reward for loyalty,” said a local activist, “but people here still feel their voices go unheard.”
With the Cabinet Office role often seen as strategic rather than policy-driven, there is concern that local issues could slip further down Ms Smart’s priority list.
What Next?
For supporters, Smart’s new role means Hazel Grove has a louder voice in national politics. For her critics, it looks like polishing a CV while avoiding tough conversations at home.
The promotion, in their eyes, raises the stakes. If Smart wants to be taken seriously not just in Westminster but in Romiley, she will need to prove that promotion means accountability — not evasion.
