Liam Booth-Smith, Baron Booth-Smith Explained

Honorific Prefix:The Right Honourable
The Lord Booth-Smith
Office:Downing Street Chief of Staff
Primeminister:Rishi Sunak
Term Start:25 October 2022
Term End:5 July 2024
Predecessor:Mark Fullbrook
Successor:Sue Gray
Office1:Special adviser to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor1:Rishi Sunak
Term Start1:February 2020
Term End1:July 2022
Office2:Special adviser to the
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Primeminister2:Boris Johnson
Term Start2:July 2019
Term End2:July 2020
Birth Name:Liam Booth-Smith
Birth Place:Stoke on Trent, England
Partner:Olivia Booth-Smith
Alma Mater:Loughborough University

Liam Booth-Smith, Baron Booth-Smith (born 1987), is a British political adviser who served as the Downing Street Chief of Staff under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from October 2022 to July 2024. He previously served as Sunak's de facto chief of staff as head of the Joint Economic Unit during his chancellorship.[1]

Early life and education

Booth-Smith was born in 1987[2] in Stoke on Trent and was raised by a single mother.[3] He read politics and social policy at Loughborough University.[4]

Career

Booth-Smith served as chief executive of the Localis think tank between 2016 and 2018, before serving as a special adviser to James Brokenshire as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government between 2018 and 2019, where Rishi Sunak was a junior minister. In July 2019, Booth-Smith became a senior adviser to prime minister Boris Johnson upon his accession as prime minister. He had previously worked at the Policy Exchange think tank with a specialism in housing policy.

In February 2020, Booth-Smith became then-chancellor Sunak's de facto chief of staff as head of the Joint Economic Unit between 10 Downing Street and 11 Downing Street,[5] overseeing the Treasury's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Booth-Smith led Rishi Sunak's leadership campaign during the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, and again during the October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.

Downing Street Chief of Staff

Booth-Smith was appointed as Downing Street Chief of Staff in October 2022 after Rishi Sunak's accession as prime minister. He succeeded Mark Fullbrook.

In 2023 the New Statesman named him as the ninth most powerful figure in British Right-Wing Politics.[6]

Peerage

In the 2024 Dissolution Honours, he was nominated for a life peerage.[7] He was created as Baron Booth-Smith on 21 August 2024.[8]

Personal life

Booth-Smith is married to former special adviser Olivia Oates.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Liam Booth-Smith . Mace Magazine . 30 October 2022.
  2. News: Payne . Sebastian . Who's who in Team Sunak — new PM's core aides . Financial Times . 25 October 2022 . 30 October 2022.
  3. News: Elgot . Jessica . The aides and spads expected to join Rishi Sunak in Downing Street . The Guardian . 25 October 2022 . 30 October 2022.
  4. Web site: Leake . Natasha . Meet the elite, chic circle of youngsters behind Rishi's premiership . Tatler . 26 October 2022 . 30 October 2022.
  5. News: Diver . Tony . 'Travolta of the Treasury' among aides and spin doctors set for Rishi Sunak's No 10 . The Telegraph . 24 October 2022 . The Telegraph . 30 October 2022.
  6. Web site: Statesman . New . 2023-09-27 . The New Statesman's right power list . 2023-12-14 . New Statesman . en-US.
  7. Web site: Dissolution Peerages 2024 . 2024-07-04 . GOV.UK . en.
  8. Web site: Lord Booth-Smith: Parliamentary career . 21 August 2024 . UK Parliament . en.
  9. Web site: Dickson . Annabelle . Britain's political power couples — ranked . Politico . 14 February 2022 . 30 October 2022.