Nick Smith grew up in Tredegar and is a former Assistant General Secretary with Welsh Labour. He is currently Head of Policy for a national charity based in the health sector, campaigning for people with a communication disability. NICK SMITH said: "It is an honour for me, as a local lad, to have been selected to fight my home seat for Labour. I was born into a mining and steelmaking family, lived on a local council estate and went to school at Tredegar Comprehensive. "Blaenau Gwent is my passion. "I promise Blaenau Gwent people that I will stand up for them and be their champion. My priorities for the area will be to work with our Labour governments in Westminster and Cardiff Bay to secure more investment in public services, deliver results on tackling crime and to maximise job opportunities."