James McAlpine, a 22-year-old Oxford Brookes University student standing at 7ft 2in, has spoken about the bullying he endured due to his extreme height before becoming an unexpected star at last week's Conservative Party Conference. McAlpine, who towers over party leader Kemi Badenoch at 5ft 4in, described being the target of relentless name-calling and physical abuse at a state secondary school.
McAlpine told the Daily Mail that bullies would kick, punch, and even stab him with pencils. 'It was a horrible time for me, really. Brutal. And the school didn't do anything about it,' he said. During the ordeal, he prayed he would stop growing. After a year and a half, his parents Duncan and Vanessa funded a move to private Clifton Hall School, where he felt he fit in better.
His late father, who stood at 6ft 9in, died of pancreatic cancer in 2021. His mother Vanessa is approximately 6ft 5in, and they now live in Edinburgh. McAlpine, who studies business management, hopes to work in the City before pursuing a political career, and joked about the possibility of becoming the tallest British Prime Minister.
He praised Kemi Badenoch as 'fantastic,' saying she is confident and has united the party. McAlpine also listed Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, David Cameron, and Boris Johnson as 'political giants.' He described himself as middle class and said the private school offered better opportunities.
