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Isabel Oakeshott

Isabel Oakeshott (born 12 June 1974) is a British political journalist.

Isabel Oakeshott
Born (1974-06-12) 12 June 1974 (age 50)
EducationGordonstoun
Alma materUniversity of Bristol
OccupationPolitical journalist
SpouseNigel Rosser (formerly)
PartnerRichard Tice
Children3

Oakeshott was the political editor of The Sunday Times and is the co-author, with Michael Ashcroft, of an unauthorised biography of former British prime minister David Cameron, Call Me Dave, and of various other non-fiction titles, including White Flag? An Examination of the UK's Defence Capability, also written with Ashcroft, Farmageddon, co-written with Philip Lymbery, and Pandemic Diaries, co-written with Matt Hancock, which provides an account of Hancock's tenure as the UK's Health Secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early life

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Oakeshott was educated firstly at St George's School, Edinburgh, and then at Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland.[1] In 1996, she graduated with a BA in history from the University of Bristol.[2]

Journalism career

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Politically, Oakeshott is regarded as a right-wing journalist.[3][4][5][6]

Oakeshott began her career in journalism in Scotland, working for the East Lothian Courier, Edinburgh Evening News, Daily Record, Sunday Mirror and Daily Mail, before returning to London and joining the Evening Standard as the Health correspondent.[7] After three years, she moved to The Sunday Times in 2006 as deputy political editor,[8] becoming political editor in 2010, and remained until 2014.[9] She was awarded the title Political Journalist of the Year at the 2011 The Press Awards.[10]

In 2013, while at The Sunday Times, she persuaded Vicky Pryce to implicate Pryce's estranged husband, former Liberal Democrat MP and Cabinet minister Chris Huhne, in having committed the offence of perverting the course of justice, leading to the case R v Huhne, and to both Pryce and Huhne being convicted and imprisoned.[11][12]

Oakeshott has appeared as a panelist on the BBC's Daily Politics,[13] as well as on BBC TV's Question Time,[14] and has been a contributor to Sky News' Press Preview programme.[15][16]

Between February 2016 and early 2017, Oakeshott was the Daily Mail's political editor-at-large.[17][18] In 2019, she wrote a series of articles for The Mail on Sunday based on leaked diplomatic memos written by the British Ambassador to the United States Sir Kim Darroch, in which he criticised the Trump administration.[19] The leak led to his resignation.[20]

In July 2019, The Guardian amended an article by its parliamentary sketch writer John Crace which contained a sentence that had potentially implied that Oakeshott obtained the Darroch emails by sleeping with Nigel Farage or Arron Banks. At the time, she called the comment "demonstrably false and extraordinarily sexist". The newspaper later published an apology.[21][22][23]

In September 2021, GB News announced that Oakeshott would be hosting a weekly show on the channel.[24] She left to join TalkTV as its International Editor in April 2022. She earns a £250,000 salary for the role.[25][26] Her prominence in these roles led to the New Statesman naming her as the 32nd most influential right-wing political figure in the UK.[27]

In October 2024, several disability organisations, including the charity Long Covid Support and the Black Triangle Campaign, referred Oakshott to Ofcom and called for reforms to the UK's hate crime laws after she criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves for failing to announce a “crackdown” on young people on sickness benefits in the 2024 Budget, and described young disabled people on out-of-work benefits as “parasites”.[28]

Writing career

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Oakeshott has written a number of non-fiction books. Inside Out, co-written with, or ghostwritten for, Labour Party insider Peter Watt, is an inside look at New Labour.[29] Farmageddon: the true cost of cheap meat, co-written with Philip Lymbery, addresses the effects of industrial-scale meat production.[30]

Call Me Dave, co-written with Michael Ashcroft, is an unauthorised biography of former British prime minister David Cameron.[31] One of the details in the book – that Cameron, during his university days, allegedly performed a sex act involving a dead pig – caused controversy upon publication. The unsubstantiated story was dependent on hearsay,[32] and Oakeshott subsequently conceded her source could have been "deranged".[33]

In 2018, she co-authored with Ashcroft a book on the state of the British Armed Forces, White Flag?.[34]

The Bad Boys of Brexit is an inside account of the Leave.EU campaign during the run-up to the Brexit referendum, which she had ghostwritten for UKIP donor and Leave.EU funder Arron Banks.[35] Oakeshott is a supporter of Brexit.[36] She was in possession of details about Russia's cultivation and handling of Banks, that he was in regular contact with Russian officials from 2015 to 2017, but publicly downplayed Russian involvement with him.[37][38]

Oakeshott helped former Health Secretary Matt Hancock write his book, Pandemic Diaries, The Inside Story Of Britain's Battle Against Covid.[39]

Oakeshott then passed more than 100,000 of Hancock's WhatsApp messages to The Daily Telegraph, who began to publish them in February 2023 in a series called the Lockdown Files.[40] She had been given the messages for the purpose of using them to help write Hancock's book and she was subject to a contractual confidentiality restriction.[41] The files revealed details of the health and public-order decision-making during the COVID-19 lockdown, and various political figures and civil servants including Hancock himself, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the UK's most senior civil servant, the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak.[42]

Oakeshott said that leaking the messages was in the public interest.[43] Oakeshott said Hancock sent a "threatening" message alleging she had made a "big mistake" and added "He's since followed through with threats of legal action."[44] Oakeshott herself has been described as "a journalist who has long made clear her disdain for his lockdown policies" and as an "anti-lockdown campaigner".[45][46]

Personal life

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Oakeshott married Nigel Rosser and has three children.[47][48] In 2018, she began a relationship with businessman and former Reform UK party leader Richard Tice.[49][50]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, neither Oakeshott nor Tice denied their attendance at a garden barbecue (allegedly against the regulations at the time). Instead, they made reference to testing their eyesight – an apparent signal to an earlier Dominic Cummings scandal.[51]

Oakeshott is related to life peer Matthew Oakeshott.[52]

Oakeshott is a supporter of Brexit, and has close links to the Conservative Party donor Michael Ashcroft.[53]

Bibliography

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  • Watt, Peter (2010). Inside Out: My Story of Betrayal and Cowardice at the Heart of New Labour. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 978-18-4954-038-4.
  • Lymbery, Philip; Oakeshott, Isabel (2014). Farmageddon: The True Cost of Cheap Meat. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-14-0884-644-5.
  • Ashcroft, Michael; Oakeshott, Isabel (2015). Call Me Dave. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 978-18-4954-914-1.
  • Ghostwriter of Banks, Arron (2016). The Bad Boys of Brexit. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 978-17-8590-182-9.
  • Ashcroft, Michael; Oakeshott, Isabel (2018). White Flag? an examination of the UK's defence capability. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 978-17-8590-410-3.
  • Ashcroft, Michael; Oakeshott, Isabel (2022). Life Support: The state of the NHS in an age of pandemics. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 978-17-8590-625-1.
  • Hancock, Matt; Oakeshott, Isabel (2022). Pandemic Diaries: The inside story of Britain's battle against Covid. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 978-17-8590-774-6.

References

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  1. ^ "Moray students have their say on Scottish independence". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen. 14 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Isabel Oakeshott (BA 1996)". Alumni and friends. Bristol University. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  3. ^ Shipton, Martin (7 July 2018). "Controversial Ukip funder and Brexit supporter Arron Banks was Cardiff's Honorary Consul from Belize". WalesOnline. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  4. ^ Dudcock, Barry (5 March 2023). "A tawdry start, but a lockdown reckoning is overdue". The Herald. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  5. ^ Mathers, Matt (1 March 2023). "Who is Isabel Oakeshott? The controversial reporter Matt Hancock trusted with 100,000 Whatsapp messages". AOL. The Independent. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  6. ^ Evans, Albert (5 October 2018). "'Don't you start!' Emily Thornberry lets rip at right-wing commentator during Question Time debate on austerity". i News. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Isabel Oakeshott, Political Editor-at-Large, Daily Mail" (PDF). Media Masters. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Axe grinder 15.12.05". Press Gazette. 15 December 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Sunday Times hires new political editor". The Guardian. 17 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Winners List". The Press Awards. 2011. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Isabel Oakeshott: Vicky Pryce double-crossed me". New Statesman. 10 March 2013.
  12. ^ Ponsford, Dominic (11 March 2013). "Sunday Times journalist Isabel Oakeshott says she fulfilled her moral obligation to Vicky Pryce". Press Gazette.
  13. ^ "Daily Politics and Sunday Politics highlights of 2014". BBC News. 6 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Nigel Farage blames traffic jam for BBC Question Time no-show". Independent. 5 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Front Pages". Sky News. 16 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Thursday's national newspaper front pages". Sky News. 24 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Remainers are 'changing mind' about Brexit despite hit to ad industry". Campaign. 26 January 2017.
  18. ^ "Isabel Oakeshott exits the Mail". The Spectator. 26 January 2017. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  19. ^ Mason, Rowena; Walker, Peter (8 July 2019). "Theresa May has 'full faith' in Kim Darroch but rejects his view of Trump". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Sir Kim Darroch resigns: Letter in full". BBC News. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  21. ^ Mayhew, Freddy (22 July 2019). "Guardian apologises to Isabel Oakeshott over 'fictitious' comment in cables leak sketch". Press Gazette.
  22. ^ "Corrections and clarifications". The Guardian. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  23. ^ Crace, John (8 July 2019). "Ambassador's trashing of Trump gives MPs chance to enjoy a bit of deploring". The Guardian.
  24. ^ Waddell, Lily (3 September 2021). "GB News' Andrew Neil will 'not return to TV channel next week'". Evening Standard.
  25. ^ "Isabel Oakeshott Returns To News UK for TalkTV". News UK. 8 April 2022.
  26. ^ Thomas, Tobi (4 March 2023). "Isabel Oakeshott hangs up on Times Radio during heated interview". The Guardian.
  27. ^ Statesman, New (27 September 2023). "The New Statesman's right power list". New Statesman. London. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  28. ^ Pring, John (7 November 2024). "Call for hate crime law reform, as broadcaster says young people too sick to work are 'parasites'". Disability News Service. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  29. ^ "Inside Out by Peter Watt, with Isabel Oakeshott". The Guardian. 13 February 2010.
  30. ^ "Farmageddon by Philip Lymbery with Isabel Oakeshott, review". The Telegraph. 10 February 2014.
  31. ^ "Journalist sparks disabled parking row". BBC News. 20 February 2018.
  32. ^ "Call Me Dave by Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott, review: 'winks and rumours'". The Telegraph. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  33. ^ "Call Me Dave author Isabel Oakshott reveals 'Piggate' claims could be false". The Huffington Post. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  34. ^ Marozzi, Justin (7 October 2018). "Review: White Flag? An Examination of the UK's Defence Capability by Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott — a sit-up-and-listen investigation". The Sunday Times. London.
  35. ^ "The bluster and blunder that birthed a new political era". New Statesman. London. 21 November 2016.
  36. ^ "Journalists clash over Vote Leave spending story". BBC News. 25 March 2018.
  37. ^ Hines, Nico (10 June 2018). "How a Journalist Kept Russia's Secret Links to Brexit Under Wraps". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  38. ^ Waterson, Jim (11 June 2018). "Profile: Isabel Oakeshott and The Bad Boys of Brexit". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  39. ^ Peck, Tom (7 December 2022). "What Matt Hancock should have written in his Pandemic Diaries". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  40. ^ "The Lockdown Files: How WhatsApp messages offer an unprecedented view of government failings". The Telegraph. London. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  41. ^ Waterson, Jim (1 March 2023). "Isabel Oakeshott: the journalist who turned over Matt Hancock". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  42. ^ "The Lockdown Files: 10 things we've learned so far". The Telegraph. London. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  43. ^ "Isabel Oakeshott reveals why she leaked Matt Hancock's WhatsApp messages". BBC News. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  44. ^ Patrick, Holly (3 March 2023). "Matt Hancock has threatened me with legal action, says Isabel Oakeshott". The Independent. London.
  45. ^ Waterson, Jim (1 March 2023). "Isabel Oakeshott: the journalist who turned over Matt Hancock". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  46. ^ Razzall, Katie (2 March 2023). "Matt Hancock and Isabel Oakeshott: A tale of scoops, betrayal and WhatsApp". BBC News. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  47. ^ "The Londoner: Thatcher portrait left without home". London Evening Standard. 18 June 2018.
  48. ^ "Isabel Oakeshott". Isabel Oakeshott. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  49. ^ Gilligan, Andrew; Shipman, Tim (14 July 2019). "Trump leak scandal engulfs Brexit Party". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  50. ^ "Who is Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist who broke an NDA to leak Matt Hancock's WhatsApps?". Sky News. 3 March 2023.
  51. ^ Murphy, Simon; Walker, Peter (5 June 2020). "Tory MP attended lockdown barbecue with journalists". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  52. ^ "Chris Huhne: A family affair". BBC News. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  53. ^ Waterson, Jim (11 June 2018). "Profile: Isabel Oakeshott and The Bad Boys of Brexit". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
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Media offices
Preceded by
Jonathan Oliver
 Political Editor of The Sunday Times
2010–2014 		Succeeded by
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