ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɛvən, smˈɪθ wʌz sᵻlˈɛktᵻd æz kənsˈɜːvətˌɪv kˈændᵻdˌeɪt fɚðə lˈeɪbɚ sˈiːt ʌv ˈæʃfiːld ɪn nˈɑːɾɪŋˌæmʃɚɹ æt ðə baɪᵻlˈɛkʃən ðæt hɐdbɪn kˈɔːld fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ðə ɹˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən ʌv dˈeɪvɪd mˈɑːɹkwænd.
In 1977, Smith was selected as Conservative candidate for the Labour seat of Ashfield in Nottinghamshire at the by-election that had been called following the resignation of David Marquand.