James Wharton

Senior Fellow

James Wharton was Member of Parliament for the constituency of Stockton South from 2010-2017. In 2013 James took the first successful Private Members Bill legislating for a referendum on the UK’s EU membership through the House of Commons. That Bill ran out of time in the House of Lords, before Government time was made available by David Cameron following the 2015 General Election. Under David Cameron, James served as the Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse in the Department for Communities and Local Government from 2015-16. Here he took the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act through Parliament and coordinated the government’s local growth, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Enterprise Zones programmes. During this period, James also oversaw onshore minerals and renewables planning and flooding recovery for the Department. In 2016 Theresa May moved James to be Minister for Africa at the Department for International Development. Here he oversaw the Government’s £5bn aid programme in Africa, as well as having responsibility for global funds. A qualified Solicitor, James retains a keen interest in politics and Parliament. He has a unique insight into key aspects of the Brexit and legislative processes as well as an in depth understanding of the Parliamentary Conservative Party and how government determines policy.