Digby Jones, Baron Jones of Birmingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Jones of Birmingham
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Minister of State for Trade | |
| In office 29 June 2007 – 3 October 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Ian McCartney |
| Succeeded by | Gareth Thomas |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Life peerage 10 July 2007 – 31 August 2020 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Digby Marritt Jones
28 October 1955 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Political party | Crossbench |
| Spouse | Patricia Jones |
| Alma mater | University College London |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Website | www.digbylordjones.com |
Digby Marritt Jones, Baron Jones of Birmingham, born on 28 October 1955, is a well-known British businessman and politician. He was the Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) from 2000 to 2006. The CBI is a group that represents businesses in the UK. Later, he served as a Minister of State for Trade from 2007 to 2008. He was also a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK's parliament, until 2020.
Contents
Who is Digby Jones?
Early Life and Learning
Digby Jones was born in Birmingham, England. He went to Bromsgrove School and was even the Head Boy there. From 1974 to 1977, he studied law at University College London. He graduated with good grades.
After university, Digby Jones worked as a lawyer for 20 years at a firm called Edge & Ellison in Birmingham. He became a Senior Partner there, which means he was one of the main leaders of the firm.
Leading Businesses
Digby Jones became the Chairman of the West Midlands branch of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). This group helps businesses and speaks for them. He then became the Director-General of the CBI for the whole country, serving from 2000 to 2006. This was a very important role in the business world.
In 2005, he was made a Knight Bachelor for his great work in business. This means he was given the title "Sir Digby Jones." After leaving the CBI, he advised big companies like Barclays Capital and Ford Motor Company. He also advised Prince Andrew, Duke of York on business matters for a short time.
Working in Government
In 2007, Digby Jones became the Minister of State for Trade. This job meant he helped the UK with its trade deals and relationships with other countries. To take on this role, he was made a life peer, which gave him a special title: Baron Jones of Birmingham. This allowed him to become a member of the House of Lords, a part of the UK parliament, even though he wasn't elected by the public. He sat in the House of Lords as a "crossbencher," meaning he didn't belong to any specific political party.
He decided to step down from his role as Minister of State for Trade in 2008. He later said that his time as a minister was very difficult and "dehumanising." However, he continued to work as a UK Business Ambassador, helping with trade and investment.
Later Political Life
Digby Jones remained a "crossbencher" in the House of Lords until he retired from it in 2020. In 2013, he spoke at a conference for the UK Independence Party. In 2014, some people thought he might join the Conservative Party, but he said he didn't do "party politics" and that business was his main focus. In 2020, he moved to Guernsey and became the Chairman of the Guernsey Policy & Economics Group.
Digby Jones's Ideas
Views on Trade Unions
In 2006, Digby Jones shared his thoughts on trade unions. Trade unions are groups that protect workers' rights. He felt that they were becoming less important and were too focused on the past. He believed they put their members' interests before the country's.
Thoughts on Brexit
After the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016 (known as Brexit), Digby Jones gave his opinion. He first said that leaving the EU would not cause many problems for the economy or jobs. However, later in 2019, he said that he had always believed the UK would be "economically worse off" after Brexit.
Media Appearances
Digby Jones has appeared on several TV and radio shows. In 2006, he was a guest on BBC Radio's Desert Island Discs. He also won BBC One's Celebrity Mastermind in 2011, a quiz show.
He presented a BBC Two show called The New Troubleshooter. In this show, he helped businesses improve and reach their full potential. He also presented radio programmes for BBC Radio 4 and Times Radio, often discussing business and economic topics.
Books Written by Digby Jones
Digby Jones has written two books:
- Fixing Britain: The Business of Reshaping Our Nation (2011)
- Fixing Business: Making Profitable Business Work for the Good of All (2017)
Awards and Interests
Digby Jones has received many special awards from universities, including honorary fellowships and doctorates. This means they recognised his achievements even though he didn't study there for those specific degrees.
He has many interests outside of work. He supports the Leicester Tigers rugby team and Aston Villa FC football club. He is also a member of the Reform Club and a patron of the Triumph Owners' Motorcycle Club.
Personal Life
Digby Jones is married to Patricia Jones. They live together in Guernsey.
