Alex Wilson (British politician)
Alex Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Wilson in 2024 | |
| Leader of Reform UK in the London Assembly | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Member of the London Assembly for Londonwide | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2024 | |
| Member of Redbridge London Borough Council for Wanstead | |
| In office 23 April 2009 – 22 May 2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1984 (age 39–40) London, England |
| Political party | Reform UK (since 2021) |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative (1999–2020) |
Alex Wilson (born 1984) is a British politician and businessman, serving as a Member of the London Assembly (AM) for Londonwide since 2024. He is a member of Reform UK. He was previously a member of the Conservative Party for over twenty years and was an elected Conservative Party councillor.
Political career
[edit]Wilson previously served as a Conservative Party councillor on Redbridge London Borough Council from 2009 to 2014.[1][2] Whilst serving as a councillor he was forced to resign from his cabinet position after implying he had been accused of not dedicating enough time to his portfolio.[3]
Initially a member of the Conservative Party for 21 years, he quit in 2020 and defected to Reform UK. Explaining his decision, he told the Evening Standard: "Lockdown was what drove me out [of the Tories], but then since then, it's high tax, it's net zero, it's not controlling the borders - it's all these kinds of issues which make me not even want to think about going back."[4]
In the 2024 London Assembly election, Wilson was the lead candidate on the Reform UK list in the London-wide region, and was elected as his party's sole representative.[5] Prior to this, Wilson served as a pollster for Reform UK.[6]
Wilson was the Reform candidate for Ilford North in the 2024 UK general election, where he finished fourth.[7]
Business career
[edit]Wilson is the sole director of Psephos Consulting, a public relations and communications firm specialised in the development industry.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Experience". Councillor (Conservative, Wanstead). Archived from the original on 15 June 2024 – via LinkedIn.
Cabinet Member for Planning and Public Protection (November 2012 - December 2013) - with executive responsibility for the Borough's planning policy and development management processes, as well as its public protection functions relating to trading standards, licensing and public safety. Served on and chaired a number of the Council's committees covering a range of service areas. Elected to serve as ward councillor for Wanstead in April 2009 (by-election) and re-elected in 2010 with an increased majority.
- ^ Dearden, Lizzie (23 December 2013). "Conservative councillor 'forced to resign' from cabinet amid leadership challenge rumours". Ilford Recorder. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024.
- ^ Knowles, Rachael (23 December 2013). "Wanstead councillor resigns after his position is "no longer tenable"". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ Vickers, Noah (20 May 2024). "'There's no climate emergency', Reform UK London Assembly member claims". Evening Standard.
- ^ "Election of the London-Wide Assembly Members" (PDF). www.londonelects.org.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2024.
- ^ Webber, Esther; Chambre, Agnes (14 June 2024). "How Nigel Farage blew up the UK election". Politico EU. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
Where other parties used internal polling and focus groups, Reform relied on a single nerdy activist: Alex Wilson, dubbed the "John Curtice of Reform" (in reference to a well-known British polling guru) because of his fondness for data and spreadsheets.
- ^ "General Election 2024 results". Redbridge Council. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "PSEPHOS CONSULTING LIMITED overview - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Director". Psephos Consulting. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
External links
[edit]- Alex Wilson at the London Assembly