James was first elected in December 2019 for North West Norfolk and was re-elected in July 2024.
Born in Norwich, James grew up in North Walsham and was lucky enough to win an assisted place at Norwich School. Although he studied at Queen Mary University, and worked in London he kept his strong links to the county - not least as a season ticket holder at Carrow Road.
Before being elected to Parliament, James held roles in both the public and private sectors. He was a Special Adviser to senior Cabinet ministers including the Defence Secretary and the then de facto Deputy Prime Minister. From July 2019 until the general election, James was a Senior Special Adviser to the Prime Minister in the Brexit Unit. Prior to his roles in government, James worked in the private sector including for a consultancy advising major international business and for a leading mobile communications company.
Since being elected to Parliament, James has been a strong voice for North West Norfolk. His top priority has been securing a new Queen Elizabeth Hospital and he successfully made the case to the Prime Minister and Health Secretary, with strong local support, to include QEH in the government's new hospitals programme in May 2023. Following the 2024 general election he successfully pressured the Labour government to exempt QEH from its review of the New Hospitals Programme and commit to a rebuild.
He has campaigned for improved infrastructure to support jobs and growth including better rail services and the introduction of 8 carriage trains from King's Lynn to Cambridge as well as major investment in Ely North to increase capacity and unlock half-hourly off peak services from King's Lynn to King's Cross.
James is working to ensure that North West Norfolk benefits from the government's levelling up agenda including through his role on the King's Lynn Town's Fund Board which secured a £25 million Town Deal as well as £25 million of Levelling Up Funding for Southgates, and £20 million through the Long Term Plan for Towns.
He has championed #LoveWestNorfolk to support tourism and heritage which is an important part of the local economy. He is promoting the beautiful coastline, countryside and protecting chalk streams by working with the Norfolk Rivers' Trust, RSPB, National Trust and other local groups. He meets with Norfolk Police regularly to raise residents' issues and to be briefed on plans to cut crime.
James was a member of the powerful Public Accounts Committee from 2020-2023 which holds the government to account for how taxpayers' money is spent leading inquiries on gambling regulation, water sector regulation, special educational needs, justice, and other issues.
From September 2021-July 2022, he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Conservative Party Chairman and Minister without Portfolio. In October 2022, James was appointed PPS to the Law Officers - the Attorney General and the Solicitor General. In November, he was appointed PPS to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Rt Hon Mel Stride MP.
In July 2024 he was appointed a Shadow Education Minister focussing on schools. In October, he was appointed Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.
He has been a member of a number of All Party Parliamentary Groups including the Armed Forces; Veterans; Speech and Language Therapy; Cricket; Dark Skies; Motor Neurone Disease; Gambling Related Harms; Fairgrounds and Circuses; and Motorsport.
As well as supporting Norwich City, James regularly watches the Linnets at the Walks.
James has run the London Marathon three times since being elected to raise funds for important local charities - in 2021 he raised over £6,000 in total for the Purfleet Trust, Little Discoverers, and West Norfolk Carers fins in in 3hr 36mins 13s. In 2022, he raised £3,500 for the Pandora Project, West Norfolk Befriending, and West Norfolk Deaf Association finishing in 3hrs 37mins 13s. He finished as the fastest English MP, second to his Welsh colleague Alun Cairns overall.In 2024, he raised over £3,700 for West Norfolk Autism Group.
He lives in the constituency and will often be found running, or cycling, around the countryside or at the coast.
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