Total Politics - The Team

meet the team Here is the Total Politics team. It's a mixed bunch from across the political spectrum. Currently we're too busy to argue politics - the most heated we get is over whose turn it is to make the tea

Ben Duckworth - editor Ben started out in journalism on the financial title Hedge Fund Manager Week as report editor. Before joining the Total Politics team, he worked at the 18 Doughty St internet tv station and as part of the team building up to the launch of Politics Home. As political editor, Ben interviewed leading politicians including Gordon Brown, Andy Burnham and Eric Pickles and wrote features ranging from unitary authorities to the history of cabinet rivalry. Ben became editor of Total Politics in August 2009.

Iain Dale - publisher Iain is best known as one of Britain's leading political bloggers and political commentators. He was part of a team which launched the first political internet television station 18 Doughty Street where he presented several of its shows. He also ran Politico's bookstore and Politico's Publishing and is the author or editor of more than twenty books. Total Politics is Iain's brainchild and he hopes that the magazine will do for politics what GQ has done for men's fashion.

Shane Greer - executive editor Shane is a leading political commentator, appearing regularly on TV and radio, and is one of the UK's most prominant political bloggers. Before Total Politics he was executive director of the Young Britons' Foundation, a not for profit organisation that trains young conservatives in political technology, where he was tasked with developing the organisation's brand and building its fundraising. During that time he was also a regular face at the UK's first internet political TV station, 18 Doughty Street, where he presented shows such as Vox Politics and One to One.

Amber Elliott- Political Correspondent Amber joined Total Politics from Dods Parliamentary Communications where she worked as a lobby correspondent, contributing to ePolitix.com, House magazine and Civil Service Network. She has also spent time on the other side of the fence as a press officer for the Liberal Democrats in the Greater London Authority, where she witnessed first hand the change of mayor from Ken to Boris. She has also worked for Sky News. Amber graduated from Durham University with a BA in History and Politics.

John Simmons - resources director Following a successful career in sales and marketing, John joined forces with Iain Dale to create the unique Westminster Bookstore Politico's. With the success of Politico's John & Iain moved forward to develop their own Political Publishing House. By John's own admission, Politics is not his chosen subject, however commercial matters certainly are.

Emily Sutton - Editorial Assistant Emily recently graduated from Keele University with a BA in Politics. Following her graduation she lived in Tanzania and worked as a marine research assistant on a conservation project collecting data which was used to advise its government on how to improve the environment and protect its wildlife.

Jeremy Halley - Advertising Director

Jeremy graduated in Politics at Lancaster University. His working life in media sales has included ITV, IPC Magazines, The Economist and The Independent, where he ran the Display Advertising Sales Team. He also served one term as a Councillor in the London Borough of Southwark.