Tory MP Chloe Smith reveals breast cancer diagnosis and urges public to ‘check for lumps’

When Ms Smith won the Norwich North by-election in 2009 at the age of 27, she was the youngest MP at that time.

She then became the youngest minister in the Government at the age of 29, when she was appointed economic secretary to the treasury in 2011 by David Cameron. 

She has also served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for Northern Ireland and parliamentary secretary for the Cabinet Office. Although she was opposed to Brexit before the 2016 EU referendum, she backed Boris Johnson in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election. 

On Monday, MPs from all parties rallied around their parliamentary colleague. 

Liz Truss, International Trade Secretary, tweeted: “So sorry to hear this @NorwichChloe. We are rooting for you. Wishing you all love and support. Xx”. Ms Crouch, who began chemotherapy in September, tweeted: “Sending you lots of love and am always here for you x”. Labour MP Afzal Khan, who served with Ms Smith on the Public Members’ Bill committee, tweeted: “So sorry to hear this @NorwichChloe. I remember our PMB committees fondly! Wishing you a speedy recovery & support during this difficult time.”

Ms Smith is an active volunteer and fundraiser for several charities including Cancer Research UK and Sport Relief. 

In 2012, Ms Smith proposed to financial consultant Sandy McFadzean, after they had been dating for four months. Mr McFadzean then proposed to her in the “traditional style” the following day.

In 2013, the couple married in South Runcton, and they had their first child, a son, in 2016. In 2019, their second child, a daughter, was born.