Nikki da Costa

Nikki Da Costa is a British political advisor and activist. She was a special adviser serving as the director of legislative affairs in 10 Downing Street for two Prime Ministers: Theresa May from September 2017 until November 2018,[1] and again for Boris Johnson from July 2019 to August 2021.[2]

In 2017 she established the legislative affairs unit to deal with the Conservative’s lost majority, factional Conservative party and to balance securing withdrawal in law from the European Union and a domestic legislative programme.[3] She stated the unit “serves a strategic purpose: to nurture the prime minister’s political capital, anticipate legislative hurdles, and proactively manage the government’s agenda”.[3] Further sources state the Legislative Affairs Unit “was responsible for ‘building bridges with the parliamentary party’ and planning the legislative timetable”[4]

She was also active in negotiating through parliament the EU Withdrawal Act 2018 coordinating agreements within Whitehall and Parliament.[5] Additionally, da Costa was heavily cited in the High Court case regarding the prorogation of parliament in 2019, having provided written advice[6] to the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the prorogation should take place.[7] She was named one of the 100 most influential women in the UK by The House in 2020.[8]

Between her stints in Number 10, da Costa worked in public affairs, through the Cicero Group.[9] Since leaving No 10 she has worked as a specialist partner with Flint Global lobbying firm and now is Director of Legislative Affairs at Hogan Lovells.[10] She alongside Mercy Muroki was an unpaid "Policy Fellow" to the Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch for 2023–24.[11] She was involved in contesting the Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill, providing reasons for intervention to the UK Government.

Da Costa has occasionally written op-eds and other articles reflecting on her time in government and giving advice. She wrote in The Times in January 2022 regarding Partygate that Number 10 had "failed as a collective" to follow the COVID-19 lockdown standards it had set.[12][13][14]

She was the Conservative candidate in North East Hertfordshire at the 2024 general election.[15][16] She was defeated by Labour's candidate Chris Hinchliff.[17] Most recently she has been active campaigning against the Assisted Dying Bill, arguing the private members bill process to be an insufficient method to legislate for the issue.

References

  1. ^ Cecil, Nicholas (2018-11-28). "Former Brexit legal chief Nikki da Costa reveals the reasons why she quit". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  2. ^ "Da Costa, Nikki - Special Adviser, Prime Minister's Office- ACOBA advice". GOV.UK. 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  3. ^ a b "Letter of the law - why legislative affairs matter to Number 10". Politics Home. 2024-11-18. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  4. ^ Stafford, Max W. (2025-06-01). "The Downing Street Chief-of-Staff: a case study in political management". British Politics. 20 (2): 184–202. doi:10.1057/s41293-024-00256-3. ISSN 1746-9198.
  5. ^ "Government's Breakneck Timetable for Brexit Bill". Guido Fawkes. 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  6. ^ https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2019-0192-judgment.pdf
  7. ^ Bowcott, Owen; Carrell, Severin (2019-09-05). "Government forced to reveal confidential memos on prorogation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  8. ^ "Women in Westminster: The 100" (PDF). The House. March 2020. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  9. ^ Hickman, Arvind (23 July 2019). "Cicero's Nikki da Costa returns to Number 10; familiar Boris Johnson press aides predicted to follow". www.prweek.com. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  10. ^ "Outstanding new senior talent joining Flint". Flint Global. 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  11. ^ "Former GB News host hired as UK Government adviser on race and gender". The National. 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  12. ^ Costa, Nikki da (2022-01-31). "Nikki da Costa: No 10 failed us when we needed our leaders most". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  13. ^ Wright, Oliver (2022-01-31). "Former aide to Boris Johnson attacks No 10 over parties scandal". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  14. ^ "No 10 'vetoed bereavement bubbles' weeks before party on eve of Prince Philip funeral". Yahoo News. 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  15. ^ Crick, Micheal (2024-06-01). "Twitter". Retrieved 2024-06-10. NORTH EAST HERTFORDSHIRE (147th safest): it seems Nikki Da Costa has been picked as Conservative candidate.
  16. ^ "General Election 2024: Conservatives select Nikki da Costa for North East Herts". The Comet. 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  17. ^ "Hertfordshire North East | General Election 2024 | Sky News". election.news.sky.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
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