David Skelton

David Skelton helped set the template for the Tories’ successful attempt to take ‘Red Wall’ seats in the north and the Midlands. For over a decade, he has made the case for a working-class-focused Toryism, concentrated on good jobs, good wages and a shared love of country. His highly praised 2019 book Little Platoons argued that England’s forgotten towns could redraw the political map – only a few months before they did just that.

David was head of research at Policy Exchange between 2011 and 2013 and later founded Renewal, with the aim of broadening the appeal of the Conservative Party and pushing the policy concerns of the ‘left behind’. David has written for a number of publications, including The Guardian, the New Statesman, the Daily Telegraph, The Times, Prospect, ConservativeHome and The Spectator, as well as appearing regularly on BBC Radio and TV, ITN and Sky News.