[1] James was born at East Glamorgan General Hospital in Church Village and attended Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School in Beddau.

[3] Prior to being elected as a Member of the Senedd in 2021, James worked as a librarian at Cardiff Sixth Form College - one of the highest rated schools in the UK.

[8][9] Later that month, he was appointed to the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Social Partnership [10] a portfolio that covers many issues such as; public services (including community fire safety), the Wales and Africa programme, Coal tip policy and the promotion of sustainable development.

[15][16][17] During his campaign for Senedd in 2021, a document written by James intended for Welsh Conservative members voting in his selection race was leaked to the BBC, which demonstrated these views.

"[15] In 2024 he was criticised by fellow Conservative MS on Twitter, after supporting party leader Andrew RT Davies on an informal poll on abolishing the Senedd held at the Vale of Glamorgan Show.