Owen Bennett
Owen J. Bennett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985 |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, author |
| Years active | 2009–2020 |
| Known for | Head of politics at City A.M., Whitehall editor at The Daily Telegraph |
Owen J. Bennett (born 1985) is a former British journalist known for his roles as head of politics at the London-based newspaper City A.M. and as Whitehall editor for The Daily Telegraph. His work appeared in publications such as The Spectator and the New Statesman, and he frequently featured on broadcasts including BBC News and Sky News.
Early life
Born in July 1985 to Deborah, who worked as a primary school teacher, and Nigel Bennett, Owen completed his studies at Harlow College in June 2008. Following this, he took on an administrative position with Essex County Council and pursued journalism training through the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), gaining practical experience by volunteering at a local newspaper during holiday periods.
Career
Bennett began his full-time journalism career in November 2009 with the Colchester Daily Gazette. He entered the Parliamentary Lobby in 2014 and subsequently joined the Daily Express as a political reporter focusing on digital content. Later, he managed political reporting for the Daily Mirror website before becoming deputy political editor at HuffPost UK. His debut book, Following Farage, earned recognition as one of the top Political Books of 2015 by both The Guardian and The Independent. In 2016, his second publication, The Brexit Club, offered an insider’s perspective on the Leave campaign during the EU referendum. In September 2018, he was appointed head of politics at City A.M..
In July 2019, Bennett released an unauthorized biography titled Michael Gove: A Man in a Hurry, which disclosed Gove’s admission of previous cocaine use shared with advisors in 2016. The book, excerpts of which were published in the Daily Mail, also explored Gove’s childhood in Scotland as an adopted child.
Bennett joined The Daily Telegraph as Whitehall editor in August 2019. However, by October it emerged that he had been dismissed due to false statements regarding the circumstances of his exit from HuffPost UK amid allegations involving another female colleague. In February 2020, Bennett publicly announced his withdrawal from journalism, citing irreparable harm to his professional standing and reputation.
Bibliography
- Following Farage: On the Trail of the People's Army, Biteback Publishing, 2015, ISBN 978-1849549516
- The Brexit Club: The Inside Story of the Leave Campaign's Shock Victory, Biteback Publishing, 2016, ISBN 978-1785901133
- Michael Gove: A Man In A Hurry, Biteback Publishing, 2019, ISBN 978-1785904400