Commentator · Former Government Adviser · Founder
Robert
Midgley
Former adviser to two Prime Ministers and a Foreign Secretary. Robert brings seven years inside No.10 and the FCDO to Times Radio, the BBC, Sky News, GB News, TalkTV and LBC, and writes for RUSI and The Critic.
- In government
- 7 years · 2018–2025
- Based in
- London
- Originally from
- Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Heard, seen & read on
7
Years in government at No.10 and the FCDO, 2018–2025
2
Prime Ministers served, and a Foreign Secretary advised
3
Newsrooms before government: Mirror, Telegraph, Bloomberg
2
Honours: Coronation Medal & Freedom of the City of London
About
Seven years
in government.
Robert Midgley served at the highest levels of British government as a trusted adviser to two Prime Ministers and a Foreign Secretary, during some of the most consequential moments in recent UK politics.
His work in Downing Street and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office was recognised with The King & Queen’s Coronation Medal and the Freedom of the City of London.
He now draws on that experience as a commentator for Times Radio, the BBC, Sky News, GB News, TalkTV and LBC, as an analysis writer for RUSI and The Critic, and as Founder and Director of Atton Media, providing discreet visual communications for leaders.
Before joining government, he was a journalist at the Mirror, the Telegraph and Bloomberg. Robert has also served as an Army Reservist, is the charity Spokesman for Friends of the British Overseas Territories, and has led the campaign against giving away the Chagos Islands.
- Now
- Commentator · Founder & Director, Atton Media
- Government
- 7 years · No.10 Downing Street and the FCDO, 2018–2025
- Journalism
- Mirror · Telegraph · Bloomberg
- Service
- Army Reservist
- Charity
- Spokesman, Friends of the British Overseas Territories
- Home
- From Wakefield, West Yorkshire · lives in London
Expertise
What Robert brings
to the conversation.
Commentary grounded in first-hand experience of the rooms, the decisions and the communications behind them.
-
01
Downing Street & the machinery of government
How No.10 really works, from someone who travelled with two Prime Ministers to their events and visits.
-
02
Foreign policy & the FCDO
Former Digital Communications Adviser to the UK Foreign Secretary, working across the government’s international network.
-
03
The Overseas Territories & the Chagos Islands
Charity Spokesman for Friends of the British Overseas Territories. Led the campaign against giving away the Chagos Islands.
-
04
Political communications & crisis messaging
Designed and directed the Prime Minister’s national addresses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
05
Disinformation, AI & digital media
Served in an intelligence role as an Army Reservist, and advises on AI in communications and tracking disinformation.
-
06
Media & the press
A journalist before government, at the Mirror, the Telegraph and Bloomberg. He knows how a story gets made from both sides.
On air
The inside view,
on air.
Robert is a commentator and analyst across Britain’s leading news channels, radio stations, podcasts and publications.
Television
- GB News
- TalkTV
- BBC
- Sky News
Radio
- LBC
- Times Radio
Podcasts
- The Winston Marshall Show
- Politico
Written articles
- RUSI
- The Critic
Career
Career
at a glance.
-
Today
Commentator & Founder, Atton Media
Times Radio, BBC, Sky News, GB News, TalkTV, LBC · RUSI, The Critic
-
FCDO
Digital Communications Adviser to the Foreign Secretary
Led the core production team in London
-
No.10
Chief Videographer to the Prime Minister
Theresa May and Boris Johnson · COVID-19 national addresses
-
Before
Journalist
The Mirror · The Telegraph · Bloomberg
The COVID-19 addresses
He designed and directed
the Prime Minister’s national addresses.
When the country needed to hear directly from the Prime Minister during the pandemic, Robert designed and directed those broadcasts.
Honours
Recognised
for service.
Robert’s work in Downing Street and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office was recognised with two honours.
The Freedom of the City of London
Service & causes
Beyond
Westminster.
-
Campaign
Led the campaign against giving away the Chagos Islands.
-
Charity
Spokesman for Friends of the British Overseas Territories.
-
Service
Has served as an Army Reservist.
Founder & Director
Atton Media.
Discreet visual communications for leaders.
The camera work, the calm and the discretion Robert brought to two Prime Ministers, now available to other leaders. Atton Media is the agency he founded to provide it.
- Videography Corporate, events and personal branding
- Photography Corporate, portraits, events and visits
- Media training Speaking to camera, with or without autocue
- Strategy Digital communications and campaign planning
- AI & disinformation Workshops and consultancy
Press kit
For producers
& bookers.
Everything you need to put Robert on air or in print: captions, biographies and headshots.
On-screen captions
Click to copy.
Biography
Robert Midgley is a commentator and former government adviser. Over seven years, from 2018 to 2025, he worked in No.10 Downing Street and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, advising two Prime Ministers and a Foreign Secretary. He appears on Times Radio, the BBC, Sky News, GB News, TalkTV and LBC, writes for RUSI and The Critic, and is Founder and Director of Atton Media.
Robert Midgley is a commentator, former government adviser and founder. He served at the highest levels of British government as a trusted adviser to two Prime Ministers and a Foreign Secretary, working in No.10 Downing Street and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office from 2018 to 2025.
As Chief Videographer to the Prime Minister, serving Theresa May and Boris Johnson, he accompanied them on their events and visits, and designed and directed national addresses during the COVID-19 pandemic. He went on to become Digital Communications Adviser to the Foreign Secretary. His work was recognised with The King & Queen’s Coronation Medal and the Freedom of the City of London.
Before joining government, he was a journalist at the Mirror, the Telegraph and Bloomberg. Today he is a commentator for Times Radio, the BBC, Sky News, GB News, TalkTV and LBC, an analysis writer for RUSI and The Critic, and Founder and Director of Atton Media, providing discreet visual communications for leaders.
Robert has served as an Army Reservist, is the charity Spokesman for Friends of the British Overseas Territories, and has led the campaign against giving away the Chagos Islands. He is originally from Wakefield in West Yorkshire and lives in London.
Headshots
Contact
Book Robert.
For broadcast bookings, commentary, analysis and speaking enquiries, send a note below. For Robert’s agency, visit Atton Media.