Christopher Hope (journalist)

Christopher Hope
Born	(1971-10-24) October 24, 1971 Liverpool, England
Occupation(s)	Journalist, political editor
Years active	1995–present
Known for	Head of Politics and Political Editor at GB News; former chief political correspondent at The Daily Telegraph; host of Chopper's Politics podcast

Christopher Hope (born 24 October 1971) is a British journalist who currently holds the position of Head of Politics and Political Editor at GB News. Known by the nickname Chopper, he hosted the weekly interview podcast Chopper's Politics for The Daily Telegraph. Hope dedicated twenty years to The Telegraph, where he worked as chief political correspondent, assistant editor, and associate editor specializing in politics.

Early life

Hope was born in Liverpool, England, to parents Michael and Caroline Hope. He attended Shrewsbury School and developed an interest in journalism early on, gaining experience at local newspapers. He earned a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bristol before completing a postgraduate qualification in journalism at Cardiff University.

Career

Following his graduation from Cardiff in 1995, Hope began his career contributing to publications including PrintWeek, Construction News, The Scotsman, and The Herald. In 2001, he co-launched the Scottish financial newspaper Business AM, which ceased operations the following year. He joined The Daily Telegraph’s business desk in 2003, initially serving as business correspondent and industry editor, before transitioning to political reporting in 2008 as Whitehall editor and subsequently senior political correspondent.

Hope was integral to exposing the United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal and is credited with coining the term flipping to describe MPs’ reclassification of second homes. Together with Richard Bacon, he co-wrote Conundrum, a critical examination of shortcomings in UK public sector projects.

In 2013, Hope was elected chair of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. During UKIP’s 2015 general election campaign launch, he encountered hostility when questioning the party’s approach to diversity within its manifesto, illustrating some of the difficulties faced in political journalism.

He chaired the Lobby during 2019 and 2020, and during a 2019 interview clarified his interactions with then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. His suggestion for a Brexit 50p coin was eventually realized through its production.

Hope held roles as chief political correspondent and assistant editor at The Daily Telegraph and appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Week in Westminster. From March 2017 until July 2023, he presented Chopper's Politics, a weekly political interview podcast that ran for 368 episodes.

In February 2023, after nearly two decades at The Telegraph, Hope transitioned to GB News, assuming the role of Head of Politics and Political Editor. His farewell event took place on 6 July at The Albert in Victoria.

Personal life

By February 1999, Hope was married to Sarah. They have three children: a son named Barnaby and two daughters, Sapphire and Pollyanna. The family had a Jack Russell terrier called Queenie from 2008 until her passing in June 2025.

Pollyanna studies at the London Contemporary Dance School and uses a prosthetic leg designed specifically for ballet. She featured prominently in Toyota’s advertising campaign during the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

In April 2007, Hope’s family suffered a tragic accident when they were hit by a bus in South London. Sarah sustained serious injuries while her mother Elizabeth died. Pollyanna lost her right leg as a result of the collision. In response, Sarah and her sister founded Elizabeth's Legacy of Hope, a charity dedicated to supporting young amputees in developing countries. Following the incident, Hope and Sarah moved to Norfolk and have dealt with lasting effects from post-traumatic stress disorder. The bus driver involved was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and received a four-year prison sentence. In recognition of this tragedy, Transport for London launched the Sarah Hope Line in 2016 to assist individuals affected by serious incidents on its network.

Tim Shipman, a journalist and friend of Hope’s, gave him the nickname Chopper.

Bibliography

• Conundrum: Why Governments Consistently Fail and How We Can Improve (Biteback Publishing, 2013) authored by Richard Bacon and Christopher Hope