Nigel Lawson

British Conservative politician and journalist. He was a member of parliament (MP) representing the constituency of Blaby from 1974 to 1992, and served in the Thatcher Cabinet from 1981 to 1989. Prior to entering the Cabinet, he served as the Financial Secretary to the Treasury from May 1979 until his promotion to Secretary of State for Energy. He was appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer in June 1983, and served until his resignation in October 1989. In both Cabinet posts he was a key proponent of Thatcher's policy of privatisation of several key industries and deregulation and oversaw the Big Bang launched in London on 27 October 1986.

Lawson was a backbencher from 1989 until he retired in 1992, and now sits in the House of Lords. He is still active in political life as President of Conservatives for Britain, a campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, and as chairman of the Global Warming Policy Foundation think tank.

He is the father of six children, including Nigella Lawson, a food writer and celebrity cook, and Dominic Lawson, a journalist.