André Walker

André John Paul Walker (born 19 April 1979) is a political and media figure from the United Kingdom.

Walker was the presenter of Channel M television's political talk show, Gloves Off, in 2004.[1] He co-presented a late-night show on the political internet-TV stream 18 Doughty Street,[2][3] and has made appearances on a number of media outlets, including BBC Two,[4] BBC Radio Five Live,[5] ITV and Channel 4.[6] He has also written for The Guardian.[7]

A member of the Conservative Party, Walker was an Executive Committee member of Conservative Way Forward.[8] He also served on the first elected National Management Executive Committee of Conservative Future from 1999–2000,[6] and as Chairman of Greater Manchester Conservative Future.[9] He stood unsuccessfully as a Conservative candidate for the Wigan Council in 2002 and 2004.[10] He has worked as a press officer and political aide for the Conservative group at the London Assembly,[11] and for the local councils in Westminster,[12] Hammersmith & Fulham, and Windsor & Maidenhead.[3] He is now works at the House of Commons.[13].

Walker was educated at Royal Holloway, University of London, the University of Salford, and Birkbeck, University of London. From 1999-2000, he served as Chairman of the University of London Union Council.[6] In 2003, he stood as the Conservative Future candidate for President of the National Union of Students (NUS), coming fourth in an election won by the incumbent Labour Students candidate Mandy Telford.[14] He had previously stood for NUS Vice-President for Further Education & Union Development in 2002, finishing fourth in a field of seven candidates.[15] A former university debater, Walker represented Royal Holloway at the 1999 European Debating Championships, reaching the Grand Final.[16][17]

In 2010 Walker was forced to resign from his position at Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council after being overheard on a train boasting about how he helped conduct a smear campaign against Alison Knight, deputy leader of The Council. Walker was overheard telling a colleague that he had “injected poison” into the career of Knight. Robert Bobbin, a fellow passenger on a commuter train from Waterloo recorded the mobile phone conversation and placed it on the YouTube with a picture he took of Mr Walker in his seat[18]

André's brother Dominic Walker is a well known (?!) radio DJ in North West England.

References

  1. ^ Gloves off for Channel M, Us, April 2004, p. 2
  2. ^ How does web-TV politics shape-up? news.bbc.co.uk, 27 November 2006
  3. ^ a b Tory aide Andre Walker caught plotting smear campaign in YouTube clip, The Daily Telegraph, 11 March 2010
  4. ^ BBC Two: Newsnight: Conservative Leadership Debate between Kenneth Clarke MP and Iain Duncan Smith
  5. ^ Call for free condoms in prisons, news.bbc.co.uk, 14 November 2005
  6. ^ a b c Board of Directors profiles, nointernettax.org, retrieved on 19 May 2007
  7. ^ Mortar Board, guardian.co.uk, retrieved on 3 April 2011
  8. ^ Forward!, Spring 2007, p. 2
  9. ^ Greater Manchester Conservative Future Executive Committee list, retrieved on 19 May 2007
  10. ^ 2004 Election Results, wiganmbc.gov.uk, retrieved on 19 May 2007
  11. ^ West London Partnership Communications Audit and Evaluation 2006, p. 51
  12. ^ Smoking ban 'could be extended to pavements', smokersclubinc.com, retrieved on 19 May 2007
  13. ^ http://londonersdiary.standard.co.uk/2011/07/how-osborne-forgave-past-sins-of-coulson.html
  14. ^ NUS Presidential Election, educationet.org, 28 April 2003
  15. ^ H.E. tells F.E. to F-Off, educationet.org, 23 April 2002
  16. ^ EDC Rotterdam 1999 Knock-out Rounds, flynn.debating.net, retrieved on 19 May 2007
  17. ^ Rotterdam 1999 Speaker Tab flynn.debating.net, retrieved on 19 May 2007
  18. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/7414127/Tory-aide-Andre-Walker-caught-plotting-smear-campaign-in-YouTube-clip.html