Dan Hodges Biography: Daniel Pearce Jackson Hodges (born 7 March 1969) is a British newspaper columnist who has written a weekly column for The Mail on Sunday since March 2016. Before joining the Mail, he was a columnist for The Daily Telegraph, where The Spectator’s James Forsyth once referred to him in 2013 as David Cameron’s “new favourite columnist.”
Dan Hodges Biography
Dan Hodges, born on March 7, 1969, in Lewisham, London, England, is a British political journalist and blogger. He is the son of acclaimed actress and former MP Glenda Jackson, and Roy Hodges, a former theatre director who later became an art gallery owner. Since 2003, Hodges has been married to Michelle di Leo. Hodges lost his left eye while intervening in a racially motivated incident at a bar. His mother, Glenda Jackson, was pregnant with him during the filming of Women in Love (1969). Known for his provocative commentary, Hodges once remarked that the Sandy Hook shooting marked the definitive end of meaningful gun control debate in the United States, stating, “Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.
Dan Hodges Biography 2025 Details
| Born |
Daniel Pearce Jackson Hodges
7 March 1969 Lewisham, London, England
|
|---|---|
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Political party | Labour Party (1987–2013, 2015) |
| Mother | Glenda Jackson |
| Category | Lifestyle |
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About Dan Hodges
Daniel Pearce Jackson Hodges is a British newspaper columnist. Since March 2016, he has written a weekly column for The Mail on Sunday. Prior to this, he was a columnist for The Daily Telegraph and in 2013 was described by James Forsyth in The Spectator as David Cameron’s “new favourite columnist”.
Dan Hodges Wiki
- Born: 1969 (age 56 years), Lewisham, London, United Kingdom
- Education: Edge Hill University
- Spouse: Michelle di Leo (m. 2003)
- Parents: Glenda Jackson, Roy Hodges
- Political party: Labour Party (1987–2013, 2015)
Early Life
Hodges was born in Lewisham, London, to actress and former Labour MP Glenda Jackson and her then-husband Roy Hodges, a stage manager and actor in repertory theatre. He studied English Literature and Communications at Edge Hill College in Ormskirk, Lancashire, from 1987 to 1990. From 1992 to 1997, he worked as a parliamentary researcher for his mother—a role he candidly described as “straightforward nepotism.”
Following that, Hodges moved into public relations, working for organizations including the Road Haulage Association, the GMB union, and the Freedom to Fly aviation lobby group. In 2007, he briefly held the position of Head of Communications at the London Development Agency and served as Director of News for Transport for London, a role he left after less than a year following a controversial remark about a contractor. He later led a campaign for a congestion charge in Greater Manchester, which was decisively defeated in local referendums.
Journalism
Dan Hodges has worked as a journalist and political commentator, contributing to publications such as The New Statesman, The Daily Telegraph, and The Mail on Sunday. He was involved in the successful 2011 “No to AV” campaign, although he drew criticism for endorsing a controversial poster that controversially suggested electoral reform could result in infant deaths.
In 2016, Hodges was awarded Political Commentator of the Year at The Comment Awards.
Labour Party Involvement
Hodges initially supported Jon Cruddas in the 2007 Labour deputy leadership race as part of the group Compass, though he later distanced himself from the organization. He also backed David Miliband during the 2010 Labour leadership contest and has described himself as a “tribal neo-Blairite.” He was an outspoken critic of Ed Miliband’s leadership.
Despite being a long-time Labour member, Hodges voted for Conservative Boris Johnson in the 2012 London Mayoral election, citing Johnson as a “unifying figure” in contrast to Ken Livingstone, whom he called “divisive.” Nonetheless, he still supported Labour in the London Assembly elections. Following the House of Commons’ vote on military action in Syria in August 2013—where he opposed Ed Miliband’s stance—Hodges resigned from the Labour Party. He rejoined in July 2015, backing Yvette Cooper in the leadership race while strongly opposing Jeremy Corbyn. He left the party again in December 2015, citing widespread abuse and intimidation of MPs as his reason for resigning in a Telegraph op-ed.
Other Views
Hodges has voiced support for government restrictions on whistleblowers, especially when the release of information could seriously harm national security interests.
Additional Work
Outside of journalism, Hodges is also a designer of war-themed board games. His first title, Where There Is Discord: War in the South Atlantic, focuses on the Falklands War. In November 2015, he published his first book, One Minute To Ten, with Penguin Books. The book explores how the 2015 general election impacted the lives of party leaders David Cameron, Ed Miliband, and Nick Clegg.
Personal Life
Hodges lost the vision in his left eye while intervening in a bar fight. He met his wife, Michelle di Leo, at a Labour Party Conference in 1999, and they married in 2003. The couple lives in Blackheath with their children.
Dan Hodges Net Worth 2025
Dan Hodges’s net worth in 2025 is difficult to pinpoint with certainty, but available estimates place it anywhere between $100,000 and $5 million. This wide range reflects the challenges of assessing the finances of media figures, whose income may come from various sources such as journalism, commentary, consulting, and speaking engagements. As a prominent political columnist with a history of contributing to major UK newspapers, Hodges likely earns a comfortable salary, though he maintains a relatively low public profile when it comes to personal wealth. The disparity in estimates may also account for investments or assets not publicly disclosed, making any figure speculative at best.
FAQs
Is Dan Hodges Glenda Jackson’s son?
Early life. Born in Lewisham, Hodges is the son of the actress and former Labour MP Glenda Jackson and her then-husband Roy Hodges, a repertory company stage-manager and actor. He was educated at Edge Hill College in Ormskirk, Lancashire, where he studied English Literature and Communications between 1987 and 1990.
What is Dan Hodges known for?
Dan Hodges is a British political journalist and columnist known for his opinion pieces in The Mail on Sunday. He previously wrote for The Daily Telegraph and gained recognition for his centrist and often controversial takes on UK politics.
What is Dan Hodges’ relationship to Glenda Jackson?
Dan Hodges is the son of the late Glenda Jackson, an acclaimed actress and former Labour Member of Parliament. His father, Roy Hodges, worked in theatre and later ran an art gallery.
How did Dan Hodges lose his eye?
In 1992, Dan Hodges lost his left eye while trying to break up a racially charged incident in a bar. He has spoken publicly about the event and the lasting impact it had on him.
What is Dan Hodges’ educational background?
Hodges studied English Literature and Communications at Edge Hill College in Ormskirk, Lancashire, from 1987 to 1990. His education laid the groundwork for his career in political journalism and public relations.
Who is Dan Hodges married to?
Dan Hodges has been married to Michelle di Leo since 2003. She is known for her work in the aviation and transport sectors.