James was a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2024, with a long-standing interest in defence, polar affairs, and international security. He began his career in the City’s shipping industry before becoming a government Special Adviser. In Parliament, James served as Shadow Defence Minister, founded the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces, and chaired key inquiries into Arctic and Antarctic defence and environmental strategy. A graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies, he represented the UK at leading international polar forums and sat on the Arctic Circle’s Advisory Council. James served for seven years in the Honourable Artillery Company, and his extensive travels across the polar regions inspired several books, including Poles Apart and In the Land of the Great Bear. He won the RCDS Prize for Crown vs Parliament and continues to write on military, constitutional, and geopolitical issues.