James grew up outside Bristol and spent twelve years covering Westminster before he and his wife Claire packed up the house and moved to Cascais in 2018 — partly for the weather, mostly because their two teenagers were begging for a beach instead of a bus stop. These days he covers Portuguese politics for Mercearia Portuguesa, which mostly means explaining the Assembleia da República to people who, like him, are still figuring out how Portuguese bureaucracy actually works. Off the clock he's usually on a golf course he can't really afford, or arguing about VAR with anyone who'll listen. He still hasn't fully forgiven Bristol Rovers for their 2019 season.