Owen Smith was first tipped as a potential future leader in the wake of Ed Miliband’s departure.
He had chosen to endorse Ed as leader in 2010, despite many of his colleagues opting for the more camera-friendly Miliband, David.
As shadow work and pensions secretary in 2015, the Welsh MP led Labour’s opposition to George Osborne’s tax credit cuts.
The subsequent reversal of the measure became a victory for Labour often cited by Jeremy Corbyn.
Read More
Born in Morcambe, Lancashire, Smith was a BBC journalist and then a special advisor to Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy before becoming an MP.
In January he signalled his future ambition when he said it would be an “incredible honour” to lead his party.
As the current contest kicked off he made waves by claiming both Mr Corbyn and John McDonnell would split the party rather than give up power.