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| Nick Boles | |
|---|---|
| Name | Nick Boles |
| Birth name | Nicholas John Boles |
| Birth date | 1965-04-16 |
| Birth place | Essex |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Politician, consultant, writer |
| Party | Independent (formerly Conservative Party) |
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford, Harvard University |
Nick Boles
Nicholas John Boles (born 16 April 1965) is a British former politician, policy adviser and writer known for his work on planning, education and constitutional reform. He served as a Member of Parliament and as a minister in the United Kingdom, later moving into think tanks, consultancy and advocacy on public policy and devolution. His career spans roles in national and local institutions, higher education networks and private sector organisations.
Boles was born in Essex and educated at The Perse School, a grammar school in Cambridge. He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Balliol College, Oxford, where contemporaries included figures associated with Oxford Union debating and future politicians from Conservative Party and Labour Party. He later took a Kennedy Scholarship to attend Harvard University, engaging with scholars from Harvard Kennedy School and networks linked to policy research in United States. His formative years connected him to institutions in Cambridge, Oxford, and Boston.
Boles worked in financial markets and consultancy, holding positions that intersected with firms and organisations in the City of London and consulting networks advising on public policy. He served as a special adviser in ministerial offices in Whitehall, working with ministers from Conservative Party cabinets and liaising with departments interacting with Department for Education and planning authorities. He also worked within think tanks and research organisations associated with public policy debates involving actors such as Institute for Public Policy Research, Policy Exchange, and policy units linked to major universities. These roles connected him to a broad cross-section of practitioners in Westminster, Whitehall, and the UK policy community.
Boles was elected as an MP, representing a constituency in London after successful candidacy endorsed by local party associations linked to the Conservative Party. During his tenure in the House of Commons he served on committees and held ministerial posts, including roles focused on planning reform and school policy that involved interaction with the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for Education, and agencies such as Homes England and local planning authorities across England. He was involved in legislative measures debated in Parliament alongside MPs from Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and nationalist parties such as Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. Boles resigned the Conservative whip amid disagreements over party direction and Brexit, subsequently sitting as an Independent before leaving Parliament at a general election. His parliamentary period placed him in the context of governments led by David Cameron, Theresa May, and inter-party negotiations with actors including European Commission, European Union, and UK devolved administrations.
Boles advocated pragmatic reforms in planning and education, supporting frameworks similar to those promoted by organisations such as TCPA-aligned groups and education reformers connected to Academies Programme proponents. He argued for moderate constitutional reforms addressing relations between United Kingdom and European Union, and promoted a centrist approach often contrasted with positions from UK Independence Party, Momentum, and the Eurosceptic wing of his former party. On regional governance he supported devolution deals akin to those negotiated with entities in Greater Manchester Combined Authority and West Midlands Combined Authority. His policy positions engaged with debates involving think tanks like Centre for Cities, Resolution Foundation, and advocacy groups active on urban planning and schooling standards.
After leaving Parliament, Boles worked with think tanks, consultancies and academic institutions, contributing to publications and projects alongside scholars from London School of Economics, King's College London, and policy researchers affiliated with Institute for Government and Demos. He undertook advisory roles for local authorities negotiating devolution settlements with central government and advised organisations in the built environment sector interacting with Royal Town Planning Institute and housing stakeholders such as National Housing Federation. He has written opinion pieces and longer essays in national outlets overlapping with contributors from The Times, The Guardian, and Financial Times commentariat, and participated in panels with figures from Institute for Fiscal Studies and civic groups engaged in constitutional debate.
Boles lives in London and has been active in community and cultural organisations linked to his constituency and university alumni networks such as Balliol College, Oxford alumni associations and Harvard Kennedy School networks. He publicly disclosed aspects of his private life in the context of political debate and has taken part in discussions with figures from campaigning groups and charities operating across England and Wales. His personal interests include engagement with civic institutions and networks spanning policy, education, and urban affairs.
Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford