James Forsyth | |
|---|---|
 Forsyth in 2012 | |
| Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | |
| In office 24 December 2022 – 5 July 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | Sophie Jarvis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1981 (age 43–44) London, England |
| Spouse | [1] |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Winchester College |
| Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge |
| Known for | The Spectator The Sun Mail on Sunday |
James Forsyth (born 1981) is a British political aide and former political journalist. After serving as political editor ofThe Spectator magazine since 2009, he wasPolitical Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,Rishi Sunak, from 2022 until July 2024.
Forsyth attendedWinchester College andJesus College, Cambridge.[2][3]
Forsyth joinedForeign Policy magazine as assistant editor[4] before launching Coffee House,[5]The Spectator's political blog, in 2007.[6] He was appointed deputy editor, online, ofThe Spectator in 2008[7] and political editor in 2009.[8]
He was also a weekly columnist forThe Times[9] on a Friday, previously writing forThe Sun on Saturdays and previously theMail on Sunday.
He is an advisory board member of theResPublica think tank inWestminster.[10]
On 24 December 2022, Forsyth was hired by Prime MinisterRishi Sunak as his political secretary.[11]
In 2023 theNew Statesman named Forsyth as the eighth most powerfulright-wing figure in the UK, describing him as wielding "significant influence over key decisions".[12]
Forsyth has been married to the journalistAllegra Stratton since 2011. She was appointed as the Downing Street Press Secretary under Prime MinisterBoris Johnson in November 2020.[1] They live inCanonbury,Islington with their two children.[13][14]
He is close friends with formerPrime Minister andConservative Party leaderRishi Sunak; they were contemporaries at Winchester College and are godparents to each other's children. Sunak was best man at Forsyth's wedding to Stratton in 2011.[2]
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Political Editor ofThe Spectator 2009–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sophie Jarvis | Political Secretary to the Prime Minister 2022–present | Vacant |
