James Cleverly Bio, Nationality, Parents, Wife, Children, Height & Weight, Net Worth

In this article we will take you through the life journey of James Cleverly

Who is James Cleverly?

James Spencer Cleverly, a prominent British politician and Army Reserve officer, was born on September 4, 1969, making him 54 years old. His birthplace is Lewisham, London, United Kingdom. As of November 2023, he holds the position of Home Secretary. A Conservative Party member, Cleverly has served as the Member of Parliament for Braintree in Essex since 2015.

Biography

James Spencer Cleverly, born on September 4, 1969, is a British politician and Army Reserve officer, currently serving as the Home Secretary since November 2023. He is a member of the Conservative Party and has represented Braintree in Essex as a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2015. Prior to his current role, he has held several key positions, including Foreign Secretary from 2022 to 2023 and Secretary of State for Education from July to September 2022. He also co-chaired the Conservative Party alongside Ben Elliot from 2019 to 2020, among other junior ministerial roles.

Cleverly was a proponent of Brexit during the 2016 EU membership referendum. In the second May ministry, he served as the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2018 to 2019 and as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union from April to July 2019. Upon Boris Johnson’s appointment as Prime Minister in July 2019, Cleverly was elevated to the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio and Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party. However, he was demoted from the Cabinet in 2020 and took on roles such as Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, and later for Middle East, North Africa and North America.

In July 2022, Cleverly succeeded Michelle Donelan as Secretary of State for Education, and by September of the same year, he was appointed Foreign Secretary by then-Prime Minister Liz Truss, becoming the first British foreign secretary of African heritage. Retained in this position by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in October 2022, Cleverly was later appointed Home Secretary in the cabinet reshuffle of November 2023. Shortly after assuming office, he introduced a policy aimed at significantly reducing legal migration to the UK.

Early life 

James Spencer Cleverly was born on September 4, 1969, in Lewisham, London. He is the son of James Philip Cleverly, a British surveyor, which reflects his deep-rooted connection to the UK.

His mother, Evelyn Suna Cleverly, hails from Sierra Leone and worked as a midwife. This diverse familial background, blending British and Sierra Leonean heritage, played a significant role in shaping Cleverly’s upbringing and perspectives.

Education

James Spencer Cleverly received his early education at two private schools in Lee, London – Riverston School and Colfe’s School. His educational journey took a turn towards the military when he began training in the army. However, his military training was cut short in 1989 due to a leg injury.

Following this setback, Cleverly shifted his focus to hospitality management, enrolling at Ealing College of Higher Education, which is now known as the University of West London. He successfully graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Entering the professional world, he first worked for Verenigde Nederlandse Uitgeverijen, a publishing company. In 2002, Cleverly’s career path led him to Informa, where he served as an international sales manager. Two years later, he transitioned to Crimson Publishing as an advertising manager, further expanding his experience in the publishing industry. In 2006, he joined Caspian Publishing as an online commercial manager. His entrepreneurial spirit came to the forefront in 2007 when he co-founded Point and Fire, a web publishing company, marking a significant milestone in his professional life.

Family

James Cleverly is the son of James Philip Cleverly, his father, and Evelyn Suna Cleverly, his mother. His father, of British origin, worked as a surveyor, while his mother, who hails from Sierra Leone, was a professional midwife. Despite coming from a religious family, James himself follows atheism. Information about his siblings is not readily available, but updates will be provided as soon as they become available.

Children

James Cleverly is married to Susannah Sparks; the couple tied the knot in the year 2000. Together, they have two sons, named Freddy and Rupert. James and his family reside in Blackheath, Southeast London, creating a home life alongside his professional commitments.

Political Career

In March 2007, James Cleverly’s political career took a significant step forward when he was chosen as the candidate for the Bexley and Bromley constituency in the London Assembly, following a highly competitive selection process. He triumphed in the London Assembly election held on May 1, with the results declared on May 2. Cleverly secured a commanding victory, garnering 105,162 votes, which represented 52.6% of the total votes, and achieved a majority of 75,237.

By January 2009, Cleverly’s role within London’s political landscape expanded as he was appointed the Mayor of London’s youth ambassador. This position was newly created and perceived as a substitute for the deputy mayor for young people, a vacancy created by Ray Lewis’s resignation. The appointment stirred some controversy, primarily because the role wasn’t filled through a mayoral appointment but by a member of the Assembly, whose traditional function was to scrutinize the Mayor. Despite the debates, the appointment was justified, drawing parallels with Kit Malthouse’s appointment as Deputy Mayor for Policing.

February 2010 saw Cleverly stepping into another significant role as he was appointed chairman of the London Waste and Recycling Board. He succeeded Boris Johnson, who had resigned from this position.

Cleverly faced a moment of controversy in August 2010 when he posted a tweet criticizing Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, describing him in unflattering terms. This was in response to Hughes’ suggestion that backbench MPs should have the power to veto Coalition policies. Cleverly later issued an apology for this comment.

In November 2010, Cleverly’s political journey continued positively when he was re-selected as the Conservative candidate for the Bexley and Bromley constituency for the 2012 London Assembly election. He won the seat, securing 88,482 votes, an identical 52.6% share as in the previous election, with a majority of 47,768. Following Brian Coleman’s defeat in the election, Cleverly was appointed as the chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

Weight & Height

James Cleverly stands at a height of 5 feet 10 inches and weighs approximately 75 kg.

Net Worth

James Cleverly’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million.