Steve Hilton, the former director of strategy for David Cameron, is now an unlikely frontrunner in the primary race for California governor, but UK political veterans are baffled and skeptical about his chances.
Hilton's Political Background
Hilton gained prominence in the 2000s and 2010s for his role in modernising the Conservative party. He was known for his unorthodox working style, reportedly padding the halls of Downing Street in socks and ordering civil servants to enact his latest ideas. He was also credited with coming up with the 'hug a hoodie' campaign for Cameron's government.
Skepticism from UK Politicians
Former Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, who served in Cameron's coalition government, was unenthusiastic. 'I think of him as ideologue rather than doer, gadfly not a serious politician,' Cable said. 'His big idea, the 'big society', was a disappointment.' Cable believes Hilton can only get elected 'by freak accident.'
One government adviser who worked in No 10 at the same time as Hilton said: 'He would be terrible! He is someone who was very quickly insanely frustrated with how government works in reality. He comes in with these incredibly wild ideas, wants them all to happen instantly, isn't interested in compromise, and when it doesn't happen he throws his toys out the pram.'
A former cabinet minister who worked with Hilton said they were 'puzzled' by his ambitions. 'I remember there was literally no one who got more frustrated with the way government worked in the UK (and that was when things were working quite well under Cameron!),' they said. 'The US state is usually considered even more dysfunctional than in the UK, so I wonder how he will get on.'
Hilton's Disruptive Style
Some have expressed surprise that the man credited for making the Tories seem more liberal had gone on to become a 'hardcore Maga' supporter who claims to have Trump 'on speed-dial.' But a good friend of his believes this misunderstands Hilton: 'He's not gone from a cuddly Cameroon to a hard-Maga populist – it's more nuanced. He is a disruptor and believes in shaking as much up as possible. That is what Cameroonism was.'
Andy Coulson, the former communications chief who was later jailed over phone hacking, noted Hilton's apparent disdain for detail. Writing in the Telegraph, he said: 'I would ask: 'So how does that work then?' If I got an answer at all, it was along the lines of: 'It'll be fine – just you see.' That was mildly irritating, as it was my team who would have to get out and sell the latest product from Steve's dream factory.'
Support from Former Colleagues
Other former friends and colleagues view this as slightly unfair and think his unorthodox approach could bear more fruit in the US. Giles Kenningham, former head of press at No 10, said: 'I think in an age of huge volatility and disruption, where we are seeing industries being rendered obsolete overnight, AI upending things, we need someone who challenges the status quo, who is agile and who has the ability push things through. That's Steve.'
A friend of Hilton's concurred: 'What makes him liked and successful, being ambitious and doing slightly ridiculous things, being a bit out there – being 'extra', as the kids call it – are exactly things that people have a go at you for over here.'
Chances in California
While unseating the Democrats for the first time in two decades in one of their safest states seems a long shot, Hilton's friends warn against underestimating him. Some polls are showing Hilton tied in the lead for the primary, which would have seemed implausible before.
His friend added that Hilton was often ahead of the zeitgeist: 'He's always been a Trump fan, he predicted Trump would win in 2016 and people laughed at him. His modernisation of the Tory party was controversial and mocked at the time, but it delivered a win.'
If he isn't successful in the US, might Hilton return to 'disrupt' politics here? 'No,' a good friend of his said, 'he is in love with California, but more importantly he views the UK as a complete mess.'
