Dougie Smith
British political advisor (born 1962) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Douglas Smith (born May 1962) is a British political advisor who has worked as a senior Conservative Party aide for British prime ministers David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, although according to The Daily Telegraph his precise role is uncertain.[1] He was formerly a political advisor to Sir James Mancham, former President of Seychelles, and Sir James Goldsmith.
Dougie Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 1962 (age 62) Scotland |
| Occupation | Political advisor |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Early life and education
Smith was born in May 1962 in Scotland.[1] His father, Malcolm Smith, ran a business making life jackets and other nautical equipment.[1]
He studied at the University of Strathclyde but dropped out before completing his degree.[1] While at university in 1985, Smith was elected vice-chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students (FCS); however, his election was declared null and void as he had incorrectly claimed to be a student at Napier Technical College.[1] He was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill fellow FCS member Toby Baxendale.[1] Smith was a leading member of FCS's libertarian faction, however the FCS was disbanded in 1986 by then party chairman Norman Tebbit who, according to The Daily Telegraph, "decided it was too Right-wing even for him".[1]
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Smith previously worked at the think tank the Adam Smith Institute, and later the Committee for a Free Britain and Sir James Goldsmith's Referendum Party.[1] He was formerly a political advisor to former President of Seychelles Sir James Mancham.[2] He served as an advisor to numerous senior right-wing figures including Sir James Goldsmith, and wrote speeches for a number of Conservative Members of Parliament.[2] Smith was the co-ordinator of Conservatives for Change (Cchange), a Tory think tank founded in 2002.[2] He is a Eurosceptic.[1]
For at least five years from 1998, he ran Fever Parties, an organisation which hosted "five-star" swinger parties.[2] When this knowledge became public, he asserted that his private and political activities did not overlap (and likened his clients to the "SAS of sex").[3]
A senior Conservative Party aide, he worked as a speechwriter for David Cameron and a Tory party headquarter's activist under Theresa May, before later working for Boris Johnson in an unknown role.[4]
In 2019, Nigel Farage, then the Leader of the Brexit Party, alleged that Smith was involved in intimidation and offering bribes in exchange for political candidates stepping down.[5]
According to former cabinet member Nadine Dorries, in her 2023 book The Plot, Smith is a member of a small and influential group of men seeking to control the activities of the Conservative Party from within.[6]
Personal life
Smith married Munira Mirza, a political advisor and long-time ally of Boris Johnson, in 2008.[1] They have a son, Robbie, born in 2013.[1]
References
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