Craig Smith has lived in the North West Leicestershire area all his life. He has been married to Mandy for over 28 years and they have two grown-up sons, who are both involved in the family business.
After serving for more than a decade in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer, Craig returned home and established his own fitness and martial arts business in North West Leicestershire. More than 20 years later, Stealth Black Belt Academy has grown into a highly successful local business, helping thousands of people across the area improve their physical fitness, confidence and mental wellbeing.
Craig was first elected as the County Councillor for Coalville North in 2021, becoming the first Conservative to win the division. He was re-elected in 2025 and is now Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group on Leicestershire County Council.
He also serves as Chairman of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority, having first been elected to the role in 2025 and re-elected in 2026.
Within the Conservative Party, Craig serves as Deputy Chairman (Political) for the Leicestershire Area, working to strengthen the Party, develop candidates and campaign for Conservative representation across the county.
In October 2023, Craig was selected as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for North West Leicestershire. At the 2024 General Election he came within just 2% of winning the constituency, in one of the closest-fought contests in the East Midlands.
Since the election, Craig has continued to serve as the Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for North West Leicestershire, campaigning throughout the constituency and working alongside residents, businesses and community organisations.
Craig remains committed to North West Leicestershire and intends to continue making the case for strong, experienced and genuinely local representation, both in our communities and, ultimately, in Parliament.
