Dougie Smith

Douglas "Dougie" 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.

For other people named Douglas Smith, see Douglas Smith.

Dougie Smith
BornMay 1962 (age 61)
Scotland
OccupationPolitical advisor
Spouse
​
(m. 2008)​
Children1

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. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. d'Ancona, Matthew (1 June 2021). "The second couple". Tortoise Media. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  4. 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.
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