Early Life

Daniel Korski was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in April 1977. His mother was among the Jewish people expelled from Poland during the 1968 Polish political crisis.

Education

Korski moved to the United Kingdom in 1997. He graduated from the London School of Economics in 2000 and the University of Cambridge in 2001.

Early Career

Korski reported for The Spectator as a war correspondent in Libya. In 2008, he was described as a “Balkans expert” working at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a think tank. In 2011, he was working as a senior policy fellow for the ECFR and running the Middle East programme there.

Political Career

Korski worked as an adviser to the Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell. He later served as deputy head of the Number 10 Policy Unit for the Conservative prime minister David Cameron from 2013 to 2016.

Controversies

In 2015, Korski was criticized for putting pressure on the Greater London Authority over proposed restrictions to Uber, with Korski and Cameron opposed to proposed regulations that would limit the company. He described proposed restrictions as “insane and luddite.”

Post-Political Career

In 2017, Korski started the business Public.io (later branded PUBLIC), which supported technology companies to work with UK public services. He said the business would provide support and advice about the public sector but not engage in lobbying.

Public.io

The model for Public.io required companies to give a 3% equity share. He selected ten companies and projects to “explore which public services to target and build up contacts in the relevant areas” for six months.

GovTech Conference

In 2018, Korski chaired a conference about technology in government, “GovTech”, which was attended by world leaders.

Political Ambitions

Korski applied to be the Conservative Party’s candidate in the 2024 London mayoral election. He proposed implementing a levy on hotel stays to fund new police programmes and supported road pricing as an alternative to expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone.

Personal Life

Korski is married to Fiona Mcilwham, who served as ambassador to Albania from 2009 to 2012 and was appointed as private secretary to Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in 2019.

Jewish Leadership Council

Korski serves as one of twenty vice presidents of the Jewish Leadership Council.

Commander of the Order of British Empire (CBE)

He was made a Commander of the Order of British Empire (CBE) in 2016 as part of David Cameron’s resignation honours alongside other advisers.

Multilingual

Korski speaks fluent Danish, English, and Swedish.

Assault Allegation

On 26 June 2023, The Times published an exclusive article by senior British television producer Daisy Goodwin who accused Korski of “groping” her breasts during a meeting Korski had invited her to attend at 10 Downing Street, and comparing her to a Bond girl.

Public Response

Korski denied the allegation and said: “I am shocked to find this is in any way connected to me. I met with Mrs Goodwin in No 10 twice I think, and she may have met others too. But I categorically deny any allegation of inappropriate behaviour. Any such allegation would not only be totally false but also totally bizarre.”

Impact on Mayoral Candidacy

The allegation came to light as Korski had put himself forward as a Conservative Party candidate for the 2024 election race for Mayor of London. Goodwin stated that she was naming Korski in The Times article because of her feelings of anger on learning this news.

Conclusion

Daniel Korski’s journey from a political advisor to a tech entrepreneur is filled with intriguing turns and significant achievements. His influence on the UK’s political and tech landscape is undeniable. However, his career has not been without controversy, and recent allegations have cast a shadow over his political ambitions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where was Daniel Korski born?

Daniel Korski was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in April 1977.

What is Public.io?

Public.io is a business started by Daniel Korski in 2017. It supports technology companies to work with UK public services.

What role did Korski play in David Cameron’s government?

Korski served as deputy head of the Number 10 Policy Unit for the Conservative prime minister David Cameron from 2013 to 2016.

What is the controversy surrounding Korski and Uber?

In 2015, Korski was criticized for putting pressure on the Greater London Authority over proposed restrictions to Uber, with Korski and Cameron opposed to proposed regulations that would limit the company.

What are the recent allegations against Korski?

On 26 June 2023, The Times published an article by Daisy Goodwin who accused Korski of “groping” her breasts during a meeting at 10 Downing Street. Korski has denied these allegations.