Simon Heffer

Simon Heffer
Born	(1960-07-18) July 18, 1960 Chelmsford, Essex, England
Occupation(s)	Historian, journalist, author, political analyst
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Biographies and works on Britain's social history; columns in Daily Mail and The Sunday Telegraph
Notable work	Like the Roman: The Life of Enoch Powell; Strictly English: The Correct Way to Write... and Why it Matters; High Minds: The Victorians and the Birth of Modern Britain

Simon James Heffer (born 18 July 1960) is a British historian, journalist, author, and political analyst. He has produced numerous biographies and works focusing on Britain's social history spanning from the mid-1800s through the conclusion of the First World War. In 2017, he was named professorial research fellow at the University of Buckingham.

Heffer has contributed columns to the Daily Mail and, beginning in 2015, has written a weekly column for The Sunday Telegraph. His viewpoints consistently align with socially conservative principles.

Early life and education

Originating from Chelmsford, Essex, Heffer attended King Edward VI Grammar School prior to pursuing English studies at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Following the establishment of his professional career, Cambridge awarded him a PhD in History based on his 1998 biography of Enoch Powell.

Journalism

Heffer's journalism career included tenure at The Daily Telegraph until 1995, followed by a decade-long role as columnist for the Daily Mail from 1995 to 2005. Returning to the Telegraph in 2005 as both columnist and associate editor, editor Martin Newland described it as Heffer's "natural journalistic home." He departed in May 2011 to concentrate on journalism, broadcasting, and a significant literary undertaking. Speculation surrounded his exit due to his frequent critiques of David Cameron's administration, which was supported by the Telegraph.

Subsequently, he rejoined the Daily Mail to initiate RightMinds, an online commentary platform. In June 2015, Heffer resumed contributing a weekly column to the Sunday Telegraph under the Daily Telegraph banner.

Historian and author

Heffer has written biographies covering historian Thomas Carlyle and composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. His 1998 biography of British politician Enoch Powell, titled Like the Roman, received acclaim from the New Statesman, which called it "a lucid and majestic tribute." This work earned him a PhD in Modern History from Cambridge University.

In 2010, he released Strictly English: the Correct Way to Write... and Why it Matters, a guide addressing English grammar and usage that attracted varied critical responses. Since then, he has published several historical titles including A Short History of Power (2010), along with a trilogy exploring Britain's social history from the mid-19th century through the aftermath of World War I: High Minds: the Victorians and the Birth of Modern Britain (2013), The Age of Decadence: Britain 1880 to 1914, and Staring at God: Britain 1914 to 1919 (2019).

In 2017, Heffer was appointed professorial research fellow at the University of Buckingham.

Hillsborough comments

In 2012, Heffer revealed that he authored a draft editorial in 2004 for The Spectator regarding Kenneth Bigley's death. The article contained contentious observations about Liverpool’s economic difficulties and social attitudes. It suggested that Liverpool’s response to the Hillsborough disaster was shaped by a "tribal grievance" mindset and criticized intoxicated fans’ involvement in the tragedy while acknowledging police scapegoating.

Following the 2016 Hillsborough inquest verdict confirming unlawful killing, these remarks were widely misattributed to then-editor Boris Johnson. Johnson subsequently issued an apology, clarifying that attributing these comments to him was incorrect and expressing regret over the misunderstanding.

Politics

During his teenage years, Heffer aligned with left-wing politics but shifted away from these beliefs by the time he attended university, although he continues to hold figures such as Michael Foot and Tony Benn in high regard. He identifies as a social conservative and, in 2006, described his political stance as Gladstonian Liberalism. Heffer advocated for keeping Section 28 intact, opposed equalizing the age of consent, and resisted efforts to liberalize laws related to abortion and divorce. Additionally, he stood against the 1999 removal of hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

Although an atheist personally, Heffer maintains that Christianity should underpin society’s ethical framework. In 2008, he called for a more robust United Nations to uphold international peace and justice. The following year, amid the Parliamentary expenses scandal, he threatened to run as an independent candidate against his local Conservative MP, Sir Alan Haselhurst, over a £12,000 gardening expense claim; Haselhurst subsequently repaid the sum while asserting its compliance with regulations.

In 2010, Heffer voiced criticism of then-Prime Minister David Cameron and the modernizing elements within the Conservative Party. He has shown support for the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and Nigel Farage, endorsing the UK's exit from the EU during the 2016 Brexit referendum. Heffer suggested that some proponents of Remain had connections to organizations such as the Bilderberg Group and the World Economic Forum. Between 2016 and 2019, he served on the political advisory board of Leave Means Leave.

Personal life

Heffer wed Diana in 1987. The couple has two children and resides in Great Leighs, near Chelmsford. He holds a directorship at the London Chorus (London Choral Society) and previously served as director of the Elgar Foundation.

Author

• The Daily Telegraph Century of County Cricket: The 100 Best Matches (Sidgwick & Jackson, London, 1990)
• Moral Desperado: A Life of Thomas Carlyle (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1995)
• Power and Place: The Political Consequences of King Edward VII (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998)
• Like the Roman: The Life of Enoch Powell (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998)
• Nor Shall My Sword: The Reinvention of England (London: Orion, 1999)
• Vaughan Williams (London, 2000)
• Great British Speeches (London: Quercus, 2007)
• The Daily Telegraph Style Guide (London: Aurum, 2010)
• Strictly English: The Correct Way to Write... and Why it Matters (London: RH Books, 2010)
• A Short History of Power (London: Notting Hill Editions, 2011)
• High Minds: The Victorians and the Birth of Modern Britain (London: RH Books, 2013)
• Simply English (London: RH Books, 2014)
• The Age of Decadence: Britain 1880 to 1914 (London: Random House, 2017)
• Staring at God: Britain in the Great War (London: Random House, 2019)
• Sing As We Go: Britain Between the Wars (London: Hutchinson Heinemann, 2023)
• Scarcely English: An A to Z of Assaults on Our Language (London: Hutchinson Heinemann, 2024)

Editor

• Simon Heffer, alongside Charles Moore, edited A Tory Seer: The Selected Journalism of T. E. Utley (London, 1989)
• Simon Heffer, Henry 'Chips' Channon, The Diaries: 1943–57 (three volumes) (Cornerstone, 2022)

Book reviews

Year	Review article	Reviewed works
2014

Critical studies and reviews of Heffer's work

High minds

See also

• List of newspaper columnists

External links

• www.macmillandictionaryblog.com