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, when she was heavily involved in the unlawful prorogation of parliament.[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 unlawful 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]
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]
↑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.