James Clark (Politician)

James was educated at Pates Grammar School in Cheltenham achieving 4 A's at A level in History, Politics, Theatre Studies and General Studies. He subsequently read History at University College London where he attained a 2:1.

During his military career he was awarded a BTech Level 4 in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, a Level 5 Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring and a Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.

During and following University, James worked in Parliament for Member of Parliament, Sir Alan Duncan and at Conservative Central Head Quarters in the Press Office. He spent a year working in the South London Primary Care Research Network before joining the Army in 2009.

James served until 2015 conducting two tours of Afghanistan the first of which was featured in an episode of the BAFTA award winning BBC Documentary, Our War. He was written up and received a Joint Commanders Commendation; his citation referred specifically to two occasions when he ran into enemy fire to rescue wounded soldiers under his command. He received injuries in an IED explosion. He was featured in a number of newspaper articles following his Battalion's return.

Following his military career James worked briefly in operations management in Dubai before returning to the UK and consulting for a legal charity and for a political consultancy in Westminster. He worked as Chief of Staff for Member of Parliament, Gagan Mohindra throughout the COVID-19 pandemic but left amicably in late 2021.

He runs Conservative Friends of the Armed Forces (CFAF) and currently focus's on running his own businesses.

• Joint Commanders Commendation 2012

• VAPC Eastern Region Member

James Clark is a Conservative campaigner. He became the Chairman of Lewisham Deptford Conservatives in 2016 and unsuccessfully fought one by-election in the Evelyn ward and one council election in the Crofton Park ward. He was selected as a parliamentary candidate for Islington North, standing against Jeremy Corbyn in the snap General Election of 2017. After being Long listed for Broxtowe and the safe seat of West Dorset he was selected for the shortlist for Rutland and Melton in the 2019 General Election. He was unsuccessful but went on to represent the Party in Islington North against Jeremy Corbyn for a second time. In both elections he was defeated. He founded Conservative Friends of the Armed Forces in 2018 with co-founder Nic Clark. He has also mentored female candidates through the 50:50 parliament initiative.

His political focus is on consensual solutions, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and engaged foreign policy abroad, along with responsible citizenship and the engagement of the electorate via digital democracy at home.