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Alex Phillips: From Politics to GB News Presenter

George James Carter Cooper • 2026-06-09 • Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

If there is a single path that leads from the back rooms of British politics to the glare of a television studio, Alex Phillips has walked it. Starting as the head of media for UKIP, she later crossed party lines to join the Conservatives, then stepped in front of the camera as a GB News presenter. Her career offers a clear view of how political strategists are increasingly repackaged as television personalities.

Full name: Alexandra Lesley Phillips ·
Date of birth: 26 December 1983 ·
Profession: Journalist, broadcaster, former political strategist ·
Political affiliation (past): UKIP, Conservative ·
TV network (former): GB News (2021–2022)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact reason for leaving GB News – reported as part of a schedule reshuffle but no official statement
  • Current full-time professional role – occasional TalkTV appearances and social media activity
  • Marital status and whether she has children – not confirmed in any verified source
3Timeline signal
  • 26 December 1983 – Born in Gloucester (IMDb)
  • ~2013–2016 – Worked as UKIP Head of Media (ConservativeHome)
  • September 2016 – Left UKIP, joined Conservatives (ConservativeHome)
  • 2021 – Joined GB News as presenter (Press Gazette)
  • September 2022 – Left GB News during daytime schedule overhaul (Press Gazette)
4What’s next

Here is a summary of Alex Phillips’ key biographical details.

Key facts about Alex Phillips
Full name Alexandra Lesley Phillips
Date of birth 26 December 1983
Age (as of 2025) 41
Profession Journalist, broadcaster, former political strategist
Political party (former) UKIP (until 2016), Conservative (2016–?)
Former media affiliation GB News (2021–2022)

What Has Happened to Alex Phillips?

Alex Phillips has moved through several distinct phases in public life: party political staffer, television presenter, and now independent commentator. Her most visible recent change was leaving GB News in September 2022, a move that followed a broader reshuffle of the channel’s daytime lineup. According to Press Gazette (UK media industry publication), she and fellow presenter Colin Brazier were both let go as GB News restructured its schedule.

Recent career changes

  • Left GB News in September 2022 – part of a daytime schedule shake-up (Press Gazette)
  • Has since appeared on TalkTV, including as a presenter on the show ‘What She Said’ (JNS (Jewish News Syndicate))
  • Continues to write opinion pieces for GB News online (GB News (national news channel))
The pattern

Phillips’s exit from GB News was not an isolated firing but part of a wider editorial pivot. The channel simultaneously announced plans to bring in John Cleese, signalling a shift toward lighter content – and Phillips’s political-interview style no longer fit the new direction.

Public appearances

After her GB News departure, Phillips remained publicly active. In a YouTube video posted after Darren Grimes’ departure, Phillips described the atmosphere at GB News as a ‘snake pit’ (YouTube (video platform)). She has also been a recurring guest on TalkTV’s current affairs programmes.

Bottom line: Alex Phillips is no longer a regular GB News presenter, but she remains a visible figure in UK media through TalkTV and independent online commentary. Viewers who follow her political content can find her active on Twitter and Instagram, though her next long-term platform is not yet clear.

This pattern underscores the fluid boundary between political strategy and media commentary.

Why Did Alex Phillips Leave GB News?

The exact reasons behind Phillips’s departure from GB News have not been publicly detailed by either side. However, Press Gazette (UK media industry publication) reported on 1 September 2022 that she was one of several presenters cut as part of a “daytime schedule shake-up.” The channel was moving away from its heavily political daytime offering toward a lighter mix that would later include comedian John Cleese.

Circumstances of departure

  • Announced in September 2022 – no joint statement from Phillips or GB News explained the reasons
  • Colin Brazier, another presenter, left at the same time
  • GB News said the changes were part of “evolving the schedule”

Personal reasons

In the YouTube video mentioned above, Phillips reportedly described the working environment as a “snake pit,” though the remark was made after Grimes’s departure, not her own (YouTube (video platform)). Without an official statement, any link between that sentiment and her own exit remains speculative.

What this means: The absence of a clear explanation leaves room for interpretation, but the pattern – a channel-wide reshuffle that removed several political presenters – suggests the decision was strategic rather than personal. Phillips’s continued writing for GB News’s opinion section also indicates the break was not acrimonious.

Has Alex Phillips Got Any Children?

There is no publicly verified information about whether Alex Phillips has children. While some web sources claim she has a son, no reliable, first-hand source – such as an interview or official biography – confirms this. The ConservativeHome (Conservative political blog) piece from 2016 includes a first-person anecdote about a boyfriend when she was 24, but makes no mention of children. Until a credible source such as a verified interview or social media post from Phillips herself addresses the topic, it remains an open question.

The trade-off

For public figures, the absence of family information is often a deliberate privacy choice. Readers should treat unverified claims about Phillips’s personal life with caution until she or a known associate confirms them.

The absence of confirmed family details highlights the privacy boundaries public figures often maintain.

What Is Alex Phillips’ Background in Politics?

Before moving into television, Phillips spent several years in party politics – but not as an elected official. Her career path is better described as that of a political operative than a politician.

UKIP Head of Media

Phillips served as UKIP’s Head of Media for three years, a period during which the party was at its peak influence following the 2014 European elections and the 2016 Brexit referendum. Writing for ConservativeHome (Conservative political blog) in 2016, she explained that she left UKIP because she no longer felt the party represented the inclusive, one-nation conservatism she believed in.

Move to the Conservative Party

In September 2016, Phillips publicly announced she had joined the Conservative Party, citing admiration for Theresa May’s leadership. The same ConservativeHome piece frames the move as a political choice rather than a career pivot: “I want to be part of a party that is serious about governing and about delivering for the whole country,” she wrote.

The implication: Phillips’s political identity is fluid – she went from UKIP staffer to Conservative member to TV commentator, always staying within the broad centre-right spectrum. This pattern explains why she could later appear on GB News, a channel that draws heavily from that political base.

What Is Alex Phillips Doing Now?

As of 2025, Phillips does not have a single, full-time media role. Instead, she maintains a presence across several platforms.

Current projects

  • Panelist and occasional presenter on TalkTV – appeared on the programme ‘What She Said’ (JNS (Jewish News Syndicate))
  • Opinion writer for GB News online – continues to publish commentary on the channel’s website (GB News (national news channel))
  • Active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram under the handle @ThatAlexWoman

Future plans

No confirmed upcoming projects have been announced. She has hinted in social media posts at working on independent media content, but no details have been made public. Given her track record, a return to regular television – either on a smaller channel or as a regular guest – seems plausible.

Phillips told TalkTV that ‘everything is about to change in the UK’, as reported by JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).

What to watch

Phillips’s ability to shift between political staffer, TV presenter, and independent commentator reflects a broader trend in UK media: former party operatives are increasingly becoming the faces of opinion-led news channels. For viewers, this means the line between reporting and advocacy continues to blur.

Her trajectory illustrates the increasing overlap between political operatives and media personalities.

Timeline

  • 26 December 1983 – Born in Gloucester, England
  • ~2013–2016 – Served as UKIP Head of Media
  • September 2016 – Left UKIP and joined the Conservative Party
  • 2021 – Joined GB News as a presenter
  • September 2022 – Left GB News during daytime schedule reshuffle
  • 2023–2025 – Appears on TalkTV and writes opinion pieces

These dates mark the key inflection points in Phillips’s career.

Clarity Check

The following table clarifies what is confirmed and what remains uncertain about Alex Phillips.

Confirmed facts Unclear or unverified
Born 26 December 1983 in Gloucester Exact reason for leaving GB News
Worked as UKIP Head of Media for three years Current full-time professional role
Joined Conservative Party in 2016 Marital status and children
Left GB News in September 2022 Future television projects
Has appeared on TalkTV Her height (not publicly confirmed)

The known facts outweigh the uncertainties, but gaps remain in her personal and professional timeline.

Quotes from Alex Phillips

“I know what it’s like to be the one who’s considered a bit of a joke – I worked for UKIP. But I also know what it’s like to be taken seriously, and I want to be part of a party that is serious about governing.”

Alex Phillips, writing in ConservativeHome (Conservative political blog), September 2016

For a former political staffer who crossed into broadcasting, the choice between maintaining a media profile and building a new career away from the spotlight is real. For Alex Phillips, the path appears to lean back toward the camera – but whether it will be on a mainstream channel or in the independent space remains an open question.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alex Phillips’ age?

Alex Phillips was born on 26 December 1983, making her 41 years old as of 2025.

Is Alex Phillips on social media?

Yes, she is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram under the handle @ThatAlexWoman.

What is Alex Phillips’ nationality?

She is British, born in Gloucester, England.

Was Alex Phillips a Member of the European Parliament?

No. Despite some online confusion with a different Alex Phillips, the political staffer Alexandra Lesley Phillips was never an MEP. She worked as a party media strategist.

What is Alex Phillips’ connection to the UK Independence Party?

She was UKIP’s Head of Media for three years before leaving the party in 2016.

Did Alex Phillips work with Nigel Farage?

Given her role as UKIP Head of Media during Nigel Farage’s leadership, it is highly likely they worked together, though no specific collaboration is documented in available sources.

What is Alex Phillips’ current job?

She does not hold a single full-time role. She makes occasional television appearances on TalkTV and writes opinion pieces for GB News online.

These answers address the most common queries about Alex Phillips.



George James Carter Cooper

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George James Carter Cooper

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