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 October 28, 1955, is a well-known British businessman and politician. He held important roles like the Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) from 2000 to 2006. He also served as the Minister of State for Trade from 2007 to 2008. For many years, he was a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.
Contents
Digby Jones's Career Journey
Early Life and Business Steps
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, Jones worked for 20 years at a law firm called Edge & Ellison in Birmingham. He became a Senior Partner there from 1995 to 1998.
Leading Businesses and Government Roles
Jones became the Chairman of the West Midlands group of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The CBI is a group that represents businesses in the UK. He then became the Director-General of the CBI, leading the whole organization from 2000 to 2006.
In 2005, he received a special honor and was made a Knight Bachelor for his great work in business. After leaving the CBI, he advised big companies like Barclays Capital, Ford Motor Company, Deloitte, and JCB. For a short time, he also worked as a "Business Adviser" to the Duke of York.
Joining the Government and the House of Lords
From 2006 to 2007, Jones was the UK Skills Envoy, helping with skills training. In June 2007, he became the Minister of State for Trade. This job involved helping the UK with its trade around the world. He was chosen for this role as part of a plan to bring talented people from outside politics into the government.
Since he wasn't a Member of Parliament, he was made a life peer. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords for life. He was given the title Baron Jones of Birmingham in July 2007. He thought about running for Mayor of London but decided not to.
In April 2008, Jones announced he would leave his role as Minister of State for Trade. He resigned in October 2008. He later said that his time as a minister was a difficult experience. After leaving, he became a UK Business Ambassador, helping with trade and investment.
Later Political Activities
Jones remained a member of the House of Lords until August 2020. He was a crossbencher, meaning he didn't belong to any specific political party.
In 2013, he spoke at a conference for the UK Independence Party. In 2014, there were rumors he might join the Conservative Party after he introduced a speech by George Osborne. However, Jones said he didn't do "party politics" and that "business is my constituency." In March 2020, he moved to Guernsey.
Digby Jones's Views
Thoughts on Trade Unions
In 2006, Digby Jones shared his thoughts on trade unions. He said they were "in danger of withering on the vine of irrelevance." He felt they were "backward looking" and not focused on today's issues. He believed trade unions put their members first, not the country.
Views on Brexit
After the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, Jones said that leaving would have very little impact on the economy or jobs. He stated, "There's not going to be any economic pain." However, in 2019, he later said that he had always made it clear that the UK would be "economically worse off."
Media Appearances
Digby Jones has appeared on several media programs. In 2006, he was a guest on BBC Radio's Desert Island Discs. He also won BBC One's Celebrity Mastermind in 2011.
He presented a BBC Two show called The New Troubleshooter. On this show, he helped businesses improve and reach their full potential. He also presented programs on BBC Radio 4 and Times Radio.
Books Written by Digby Jones
Jones has written two books about business and the UK.
- In 2011, he published Fixing Britain: The Business of Reshaping Our Nation.
- In 2017, his second book, Fixing Business: Making Profitable Business Work for the Good of All, was released.
Honors and Personal Life
Digby Jones has received many honorary degrees from different UK universities. He also has honorary fellowships from places like Cardiff University and University College London.
Jones and his wife, Pat, live in Guernsey. He supports sports teams like Leicester Tigers and Aston Villa FC. He is also a member of the Reform Club and a patron of the Triumph Owners' Motorcycle Club.
