James Wharton, Chairman

James oversees the running of NorthPoint Strategy and provides strategic counsel to clients. 

With a career background as a qualified solicitor and then in politics, he is perhaps best known for running Boris Johnson’s campaign to become Prime Minister in 2019.

In 2010, James was elected as the MP for Stockton South. During his time as an MP, he served on the Public Accounts Select Committee and as a Minister in both the David Cameron and Theresa May governments. 

James served as both the Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse and the Minister for International Development, overseeing the government’s £5 billion aid programme in Africa and had overall responsibility for global funds. 

Today, James sits in the House of Lords as Baron Wharton of Yarm, represents the UK on the Council of Europe, is a Senior Fellow at the think tank, Policy Exchange and sits on the Board of Conservative Friends of America. Until July 2024, James also Chaired the Office for Students, England’s higher education regulator.