James Nation, OBE
James Nation, OBE is known as 'Sunak's Problem Solver' for his pivotal role handling some of the most difficult issues faced by Number 10 during his tenure. He served as Deputy Head of the Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from 2022 to 2024, where he helped develop the Prime Minister's domestic policy agenda.
Most recently, he led the team responsible for drawing up the Conservative Party Manifesto in the 2024 General Election campaign. In May 2025, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his public service.
Prior to Number 10, Nation served as a Special Advisor to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (2020-2022). In that role, he worked in Number 11 on teams that developed several budgets, including the March 2021 budget and the UK Government's fiscal response to the COVID pandemic.
He began his career at the Confederation of British Industry after studying at Oxford and the London School of Economics. He joined the civil service in 2016, working in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and later HM Treasury.
He is currently Managing Director at Forefront Advisors, an intelligence-led political insights firm, and continues to write regularly on UK political developments, economics, and public policy.
- Deputy Head of Policy Unit, 10 Downing Street (2022 - 2024).
- Lead Author, Conservative Party Manifesto (2024 General Election).
- Special Advisor to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (2020 - 2022).
- Civil Servant, HM Treasury & Ministry of Housing (2016 - 2020).
- Managing Director, Forefront Advisors (Current).
Investment Banks, National Wealth Funds, Private Sector Enterprises, Think Tanks, Private Equity Firms, Pension Funds, Asset Managers, Ratings Agencies, Policy-Makers, Universities.
