James Forsyth remains one of Westminster’s most influential political voices, blending journalistic rigor with policymaking experience. Currently contributing to The Spectator after serving as Rishi Sunak’s Political Secretary (2022–2024), his work focuses on Conservative Party strategy and leadership analysis.
With a career spanning groundbreaking digital journalism (Coffee House blog) and high-stakes government advisory, Forsyth represents a unique bridge between media and policy worlds. His recent return to commentary suggests renewed focus on election strategy as the UK approaches its 2025 general election.
We’ve followed James Forsyth’s trajectory from his early days as a digital innovator at The Spectator to his role as a key architect of Rishi Sunak’s political strategy. His work exemplifies the intersection of media acuity and policymaking, offering PR professionals a masterclass in navigating Westminster’s corridors of power.
This prescient analysis of Johnson’s leadership crisis combined anonymous ministerial quotes with polling data to forecast the PM’s resignation months before it occurred. Forsyth’s access to both backbench MPs and Downing Street insiders created a multidimensional view of the crisis, later cited in BBC Newsnight segments.
Examining Sunak’s early challenges, this piece blended economic analysis with political forecasting. Forsyth’s dissection of the “Truss effect” on Conservative electability became a benchmark for subsequent leadership analyses.
While not by Forsyth, this profile underscores his transition from commentator to policymaker, highlighting how media expertise translates to political influence.
Forsyth prioritizes stories exposing factional divides, like his 2021 scoop on backbench rebellions over net-zero policies. PR teams should highlight policy disagreements with voting data from marginal constituencies.
His piece comparing Sunak’s and Starmer’s PMQs performances (2023) demonstrates interest in rhetorical tactics. Pitches should include expert linguistic analysis and focus group findings.
Forsyth’s NHS backlog coverage (2022–2023) shows appetite for data-driven stories. Provide access to hospital trust CEOs paired with patient outcome statistics.
“The most connected journalist in Westminster” – New Statesman Power List, 2023
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Politics, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant: