James Lawrence

Revision as of 19:53, 1 September 2019 by Lysone (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
James Lawrence
David Lawrence.jpg
Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Renvyle
Assumed office
24 October 2019
Prime MinisterAyda Westwood
Preceded byAnnette Fielding
Leader of the Progressive Party
Assumed office
18 December 2015
Preceded byPeter Cook
Leader of the Opposition
In office
18 December 2015 – 24 October 2019
Preceded byPeter Cook
Succeeded byDavid Lorimer
Member of Parliament
Assumed office
13 October 2011
Personal details
Born (1971-05-09) 9 May 1971 (age 53)
NationalityRenvylese
Political partyProgressive
SpouseHarriet Lawrence
Children2
OccupationPolitician, journalist

James Lawrence is a Renvylese politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister since October 2019. An MP since 2011, Lawrence was elected as leader of the Progressive Party in 2015, having previously worked in journalism. He spent four years as Leader of the Opposition up until the 2019 general election in which his party polled a disappointing third place, leading to the formation of a coalition with the People's Labour Party under Ayda Westwood.

Born in 1971 to upper-class parents, Lawrence was educated at the prestigious Holmefield College before attending the University of Sturbridge to study political philosophy. He went from university to working in the office of Moderate Party leader Alistair Balding, after which he entered journalism. Lawrence wrote for several leading publications, including as the editor of the centre-right magazine National Dispatch between 2004 and 2009.

Selected as a party-list candidate for the Progressives for the 2011 election, he entered Parliament just as his party lost power following 11 years in government. Party leader Peter Cook promoted Lawrence to several leadership positions, but was ousted by his protégé following the party's dismal performance in the 2015 parliamentary election in which the Liberal People's Party under William Albright was re-elected in a landslide.