Overview

• Italian-born? No — the 22-year-old, Scottish-born Oxford Brookes student James McAlpine is widely billed as Britain’s tallest Conservative at 7ft 2in.
• McAlpine was photographed congratulating Tory leader Kemi Badenoch after her closing speech in Manchester, with the leader thanking him as the party’s “tallest member.”
• He says he will finish his degree before seeking a council seat and then aiming for Parliament, with one interview quoting him as open to a future leadership bid.
• In media interviews at the conference, he attacked Labour’s proposal for a 20% tax on inherited agricultural assets over £1 million from April 2026, citing farmers and countryside preservation.
• Already a social‑media fixture from events like Cheltenham, where a clip drew millions of views, he could surpass the Guinness record for tallest politician if he wins elected office.