Christopher Hope is one of Britain’s most recognizable political journalists, currently serving as Head of Politics and Political Editor at GB News. Known by his nickname “Chopper,” Hope spent 20 years at The Daily Telegraph before making his high-profile move to GB News in 2023. His career spans major political events from the parliamentary expenses scandal to Brexit coverage, making him a trusted voice in Westminster journalism.
Born on October 24, 1971, in Liverpool, England, Hope has built a reputation for asking the tough questions that politicians often prefer to avoid. Donald Trump once described him as having “such a nice face” but warned to “watch – he’ll ask a totally killer question”. This combination of approachable demeanor and incisive journalism has defined Hope’s career for over two decades.
Early Life and Education
Christopher Hope was born to parents Michael and Caroline Hope and educated at Shrewsbury School. From childhood, he knew he wanted to become a journalist and gained early experience through work placements at local newspapers including the Formby Times and Formby and Southport Globe.
Hope studied politics at Bristol University before earning a postgraduate diploma in magazine journalism at Cardiff University’s prestigious School of Journalism, Media and Culture. This educational foundation in both politics and journalism would prove essential for his later career covering Westminster.
After leaving Cardiff in 1995, Hope worked briefly for Brake, the road safety charity, before entering the journalism industry proper. His early career showed the persistence that would later make him successful in political journalism.
Career Journey from Local Papers to Westminster
Hope’s journalism career began in trade publications. He joined PrintWeek in January 1997, moving to Construction News in September of that year. In February 1999, now married to Sarah, he moved to Scotland as Business Correspondent for The Scotsman.
Hope was one of the launch journalists as Chief Business Writer at Business a.m., a Scottish business newspaper, in September 2000. When the paper folded in 2001, he moved to London in January 2002 to work for the Herald (Glasgow) as City Editor.
The breakthrough came in October 2003. Christopher joined The Daily Telegraph as Business Correspondent, hired by City editor Neil Collins to join the paper’s business team. This move would transform his career from trade journalism to national political reporting.
Telegraph Years and Major Scoops
Hope worked in The Telegraph’s City Office between 2003 and 2006 before joining the paper’s prestigious Lobby team as Whitehall Editor. The parliamentary lobby represents the elite corps of political journalists with special access to Westminster.
His roles at The Telegraph included Home Affairs Correspondent, Home Affairs Editor, Whitehall Editor, Senior Political Correspondent, Chief Political Correspondent, Assistant Editor (Politics), and finally Associate Editor (Politics). Each promotion reflected his growing influence in political journalism.
Hope’s most significant story came in 2009. As part of the Telegraph’s Lobby team, he helped break the MP Expenses scandal, which led to dozens of MPs quitting Parliament and the resignation of Commons Speaker Michael Martin. Hope claims to have coined the term “flipping” to describe MPs re-designating second homes.
Other major exclusives include disclosing the full Crown Prosecution Service file on the murder of WPc Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984. In 2010 and 2011, he was among the leading journalists revealing UK and US diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks.
Hope’s persistent questioning led to David Cameron admitting he had ridden a police horse with News Corp chief executive Rebekah Brooks during the phone hacking scandal. His suggestion of a Brexit 50p coin led to the coin being minted.
| Career Milestone | Year | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| MP Expenses Scandal | 2009 | Helped break major political story |
| WikiLeaks Coverage | 2010-2011 | Disclosed diplomatic cables |
| Brexit 50p Coin | 2016 | Suggested commemorative coin |
| Chopper’s Politics Launch | 2017 | Started weekly political podcast |
Family Tragedy and Charity Work
Hope’s personal life was forever changed by tragedy. In April 2007, his family was hit by a bus in South London, leaving his wife Sarah badly injured and killing her mother Elizabeth. Their daughter Pollyanna lost her right leg in the crash.
Sarah and her sister created Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope, a charity devoted to helping young amputees in developing countries. The charity raised over £600,000 to support more than 120 child amputees in Sierra Leone, Liberia and India before winding up in February 2023.
Sarah won a Pride of Britain award in 2017 and was made MBE in 2020 for her work on road safety and supporting child amputees. Transport for London set up the Sarah Hope Line, a helpline for crash victims, in 2016.
Pollyanna, now a student at London Contemporary Dance School, has had a ballet-specific prosthetic leg fitted and featured in Toyota’s advertising campaign for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The family’s resilience in the face of tragedy demonstrates the strength that has helped Hope tackle difficult stories throughout his career.
Move to GB News
In February 2023, it was announced that Hope would leave The Telegraph after 20 years to join GB News as Head of Politics and Political Editor. Hope is arguably the most prominent political journalist GB News has attracted since Andrew Neil.
Hope explained his motivation: “For me, the most exciting thing about joining GB News is the opportunity to bring politics to audiences who feel they’ve been poorly served by media in the past”. He emphasized that “the next general election will be decided in the Red Wall, in the exact areas of the north where GB News has won some of the strongest audiences in news broadcasting”.
From March 2017 to July 2023, Hope presented Chopper’s Politics, originally titled Chopper’s Brexit Podcast, which ran for 368 episodes. The podcast’s episodes have been listened to more than eight million times, featuring interviews with every Prime Minister and party leader since 2017.
At GB News, Hope continues his political journalism with the same approach that made him successful at The Telegraph. He describes his method: “We don’t shout at politicians, we listen. I strive to be even-handed with everyone, so I keep my own politics to myself”.
Christopher Hope’s Journalism Awards
Hope’s journalism has been recognized with several prestigious awards:
Young Journalist of the Year from International Building Press in 1998, Scoop of the Year finalist at Scottish Press Awards in 2002, and Scoop of the Year winner (team) at Press Awards in 2010. His podcast has been a finalist for Best Political Podcast at the Publisher Podcast Awards in both 2022 and 2023.
Hope co-wrote the book “Conundrum: Why every government gets things wrong and what we can do about it” with Richard Bacon, published by Biteback Publishing in 2013. The book provides a detailed account of UK public sector and government project failures.
His career achievements reflect consistent excellence in political journalism. From breaking major scandals to conducting thousands of interviews, Hope has established himself as one of Britain’s most trusted political reporters. His move to GB News represents the next chapter in a career dedicated to holding power to account.
FAQs:
Who is Christopher Hope?
Christopher Hope is a British journalist who serves as Head of Politics and Political Editor at GB News.
Why is Christopher Hope called Chopper?
The nickname “Chopper” came from colleagues who shortened his email address “chope@” when he worked at Construction News and The Scotsman.
When did Christopher Hope join GB News?
Hope joined GB News as Political Editor in August 2023 after leaving The Telegraph.
What is Christopher Hope known for?
Hope is known for helping break the parliamentary expenses scandal and for his weekly political podcast Chopper’s Politics.
To wrap up, Christopher Hope’s journey from local newspapers to becoming one of Britain’s most respected political journalists shows how dedication, resilience, and the courage to ask difficult questions can build a lasting career in holding power to account, and you can always find more inspiring stories like this on earlymagazine.
