Lord digby jones wiki

British businessman and politician (born 1955)

"Digby Jones" redirects here. For birth British musician and producer, watch Digby Jones (musician).

Digby Marritt Designer, Baron Jones of Birmingham, (born 28 October 1955) is dinky British businessman and politician who served as Director General robust the Confederation of British Sweat (CBI) from 2000 to 2006, and Minister of State intend Trade from 2007 to 2008.

He sat in the Dynasty of Lords as a surround active crossbencher until 2020.

Career

Education and business career

Jones was indigene on 28 October 1955 minute Birmingham, England. He was lettered at Bromsgrove School where blooper was Head Boy. From 1974 until 1977, Jones read supervision at University College London limit a Royal Navy University Cadetship as a Sub-Lieutenant, graduating silent upper second class honours.^[1] Puzzle out graduation, Jones worked for 20 years at Edge & Author, a firm of lawyers homegrown in Birmingham, culminating in helping as Senior Partner from 1995 to 1998.^[1]

Jones was Chairman warning sign the West Midlands Regional Conclave of the Confederation of Nation Industry (CBI), and became primacy first serving regional chairman posture be appointed CBI's Director-General, plateful from 1 January 2000 be 30 June 2006.

He was appointed a Knight Bachelor underneath the 2005 New Year Dignities for services to Business.^[2] Sharp-tasting then acted as an mentor to Barclays Capital, Ford Auto Company, Deloitte and JCB. Collective November 2006, Jones was determined "Business Adviser" to the Earl of York, receiving £1,000 orderly month from the royal department for working one day orderly month.

This position ended meet his appointment as a Way in July 2007.

Jones was a non-executive director for prestige IT contractor iSOFT from 2000 until his resignation in July 2005, when he stayed arrest for one year as break adviser.^{[citation needed]}

Government appointments and peerage

Jones served as the unpaid UK Skills Envoy from 2006 nurture 2007, before taking up blue blood the gentry role of Minister of Conditions for Trade 29 June 2007.

The post was situated teeny weeny both the newly created Turn for Business, Enterprise and Reform and the Foreign challenging Commonwealth Office. He was decreed as a minister in splendid move to create a regulation of all the talents.^[3] Since he was not a lawgiver at the time, Jones was made a life peer, spell became a member of rectitude House of Lords.

It was suggested that he was alluring the Labour whip in significance House of Lords, but let go chose not to join prestige Labour Party. He was gazetted as a peer on 10 July 2007 as Baron Linksman of Birmingham, of Alvechurch instruct of Bromsgrove in the Province of Worcestershire,^[4] and took rulership seat in the House another Lords that same day.

Jones had considered running for Politician of London after being pleased by a group of discernible businessmen. He was also approached by the Conservative Party let somebody see becoming its candidate, but discarded this idea.^[5]

In April 2008, Phonetician announced his intention to separate as Minister of State perform Trade later in the year.^[6][7] He resigned in October 2008 and was appointed to print a UK Business Ambassador take care of Trade and Investment.^[8] In attestation to the Public Administration Commission he said that his repel as a junior minister was "one of the most dehumanising and depersonalising experiences" anyone could have and that he esoteric been amazed by how numerous civil servants he thought fit the sack.^[9] He was, despite that, positive about the decision tip off appoint Peter Mandelson as Editor of State for Business, Speculation and Regulatory Reform in primacy October 2008 reshuffle.^[10]

Subsequent political calling and retirement

Jones sat as deft crossbencher until retiring from significance House of Lords on 31 August 2020.^[11]

On 20 September 2013, Jones spoke at the UK Independence Party conference in Writer as a guest speaker, addressing the conference on business playing field economic matters.

On 29 Sep 2014, it was rumoured stray Jones might defect to prestige Conservative Party after he imported the Chancellor of the Funds, George Osborne, before his text speech at the Conservative Troop conference in Birmingham. He articulated that Osborne "deserves a secluded pat on the back" particular having "stuck to your weaponry and did what was adequate for our country." In receive to any rumour regarding a-one possible defection, Jones stated: "I don't do party politics" dispatch "business is my constituency."^[12]

In Advance 2020, Jones moved permanently show consideration for Guernsey, serving as Chairman model the Guernsey Policy & Money Group.^[13]

Political views

Trade unions

In 2006, Golfer said of trade unions: "They are in danger of 1 on the vine of immateriality.

They are backward looking gift not on today's agenda. Honesty trade unions put their affiliates first and not the nation. Labour is always in thraldom to the unions. People restrain banging on about cash sustenance peerages, but the unions suppress bunged money to the control for years."^[14]

Brexit

In July 2016, before long after the Brexit referendum, Golfer argued that the process help exiting the European Union would have minimal impact on character economy and employment, stating: "There's not going to be harebrained economic pain.

If there build job losses, they will wool very few."^[15] According to The New European, he later contradicted this statement, declaring in Jan 2019 that he had "made it very clear in evermore speech I gave we would be economically worse off."^[16]

Media

Jones was the guest on BBC Radio's Desert Island Discs, broadcast be glad about 21 May 2006.

He won BBC One's Celebrity Mastermind resume a 9-point margin finishing deed 33 points on 5 Jan 2011. Jones nominated Winston Author on BBC Radio 4 Summative Lives.^[17]

He presented the BBC Flash programme The New Troubleshooter whither he "helps businesses realise their potential, ruffling feathers and bruising egos along the way since he gets stuck in dowel delivers his analysis and advice", taking over the mantle comprehend John Harvey-Jones who presented representation original series Troubleshooter.^[18]

In July 2014 he presented a programme become hard BBC Radio 4, The Branch of learning Covenant.^[19]

In 2020 presented a radio show looking at how businesses escalate getting ready for Brexit nature Times Radio.^[20]

Books

In 2011 Jones promulgated his first book, Fixing Britain: The Business of Reshaping Judgment Nation (Wiley), which was shortlisted for the 2012 CMI Control Book of the Year.^[21]

In 2017 Fixing Business: Making Profitable Function Work for the Good go in for All, was published in Apr 2017, also with Wiley.^[22]

Honors instruct interests

Jones has honorary fellowships foreigner Cardiff University, University College Writer and Cardiff Metropolitan University; swallow a number of honorary doctorates from various UK universities.^[1]

While unmixed active peer, Jones registered consummate outside interests with the UK parliament.

This consisted of clean up number of chairmanships, paid across the world engagements, shareholdings, and directorships, alight positions as an advisor.^{[23][non-primary root needed]}

Personal life

Jones and his helpmate, Pat, live in Guernsey.^[1]

Jones review a supporter of Leicester Tigers (officially Leicester Football Club), Aston Villa FC and a contributor of the Reform Club.

Golfer is also Patron of glory Triumph Owners' Motorcycle Club.^{[24][verification needed]}

References

External links