Gawain Towler

Gawain Howard Wilkinson Towler (born 24 December 1967) is a British politician, political strategist and journalist best known for his involvement in British Eurosceptic movements. He has served on the governing board of Reform UK since 2025, having previously served as its director of communications from 2019 to 2024. He previously served as a press officer for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2004 to 2017 and as an advisor for the Conservative Party from 1999 to 2002. He is also the owner and founder of CWC Strategy, a communications and strategy agency. He has contributed to various national publications, including The Daily Telegraph, The Spectator, CapX, The Critic, and Spiked, where he writes on topics such as foreign affairs, politics, society, and culture.

Towler was initially a member of the Conservative Party, standing for them in the 2001 UK general election and the 2003 Scottish Parliament election. In 2004, Nigel Farage recruited Towler to UKIP as a press officer, later leading its media operations and also standing for UKIP in the 2009 and 2014 European Parliament elections. He left UKIP in 2018 and joined the Brexit Party, later rebranded Reform UK, in 2019, where he was the director of communications until his dismissal in 2024, before being elected to serve on its governing board by party members in 2025.

Early life and career Gawain Howard Wilkinson Towler was born on 24 December 1967 in Devon, England. He was educated at Clayesmore School, Dorset, and later studied philosophy at the University of York, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993. While at York, he was chairman of the University of York Conservative and Unionist Association.

From 1994 to 1996, Towler worked at Lottery Promotion Company Ltd as a public affairs officer. He was a temp from 1996 to 1998 and also freelanced as a journalist from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, he became an advisor on international development at the European Parliament. He later stood as a Conservative candidate in the 2003 Scottish Parliament election for the Glasgow Kelvin constituency, coming in fifth place with 8.2% of the vote.

From 1999 to 2002, Towler worked at the European Parliament in Brussels as an assistant and advisor to Nirj Deva, Conservative member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South East England. During this time, he became critical of the European Union's influence and transitioned toward Euroscepticism. In 2002, he left Deva's office to co-found and edit The Sprout, a satirical magazine focused on EU politics.

UK Independence Party

In 2004, Nigel Farage recruited Towler to join UKIP as a press officer. By 2009, he had become UKIP's head of Press, leading the party's media operations. He held this position through the 2016 Brexit referendum until early 2018, when he stepped down following UKIP's decline.

Towler stood for UKIP in the European Parliament constituency of South West England in the 2009 and 2014 European Parliament elections.

Brexit Party and Reform UK In 2019, Towler became director of Communications for the newly-formed Brexit Party, where he played a key role in shaping its messaging during the 2019 European Parliament elections. After the Brexit Party rebranded as Reform UK in 2021, Towler continued as the party's chief press officer under Richard Tice. He remained in this role until 2024, when he was dismissed by party chair Zia Yusuf as part of a party restructuring effort.

In 2025, Towler was elected to the governing board of Reform UK in a vote of party members.

Personal life Towler is married to Joslin.

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