Dougie Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 1962 (age 61) Scotland |
| Occupation | Political advisor |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
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.
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
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]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rayner, Gordon (18 September 2021). "Meet the most powerful couple in Downing Street... you've never heard of". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 Elliot, John (22 June 2003). "Top Tory aide is king of urban swingers". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ↑ d'Ancona, Matthew (1 June 2021). "The second couple". Tortoise Media. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ↑ Dale, Iain (5 December 2019). "Nigel Farage opens up about alleged Tory party bribes". LBC. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.