Paul Drayson, Baron Drayson

The Right Honourable
The Lord Drayson
PC

Lord Drayson signing a memorandum. (2006)
Minister of State for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform
In office
8 June 2009 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Abolished
Minister of State for Science and Innovation
In office
3 October 2008 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by Ian Pearson
Succeeded by David Willetts (Universities and Science)
Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support
In office
6 May 2005 – 7 November 2007
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
Preceded by The Lord Bach
Succeeded by The Baroness Taylor of Bolton
Personal details
Born (1960-03-05) 5 March 1960
Political party Labour
Residence Nether Lypiatt Manor
Alma mater Aston University
Profession Businessman
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Participating years 2009 –
Teams Drayson Racing
Best finish 28th/NC (2010)
Class wins 0

Paul Rudd Drayson, Baron Drayson FREng[1] PC (born 5 March 1960),[2] is a British businessman, amateur racing driver and Labour politician. He was Minister of Science in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills until May 2010, where he replaced Ian Pearson. In June 2009 he was additionally appointed as Minister of State for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform at the Ministry of Defence.[3] After losing his ministerial positions in the General Election 2010 he decided to devote himself totally towards his motorsports company Drayson Racing Technology.[4] He is chairman and CEO of Drayson Technologies Ltd.[5]

Early life and career

After attending St Dunstan's College, Paul Drayson graduated from Aston University in Production Engineering, followed in 1986 by a PhD in robotics.[6] From 1986 to 1991 he was managing director of the Lambourn Food Company. From 1992 to 1998 he was managing director of Justin de Blank Ltd.

In 1993 he co-founded PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc in Oxford which specialised in the production of vaccines, and was Chief Executive until 2003 when PowderJect was acquired by Chiron Corp.[7]

Between 2001 and 2002 he was the Chairman of the BioIndustry Association. From 2002–2005 he was chairman of the fundraising campaign to build a children's hospital at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Since 2003, he has been the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Said Business School, Oxford University.

Drayson is the current president of the Motorsport Industry Association. He is chairman and CEO of Drayson Technologies Ltd near Oxford.[5]

Labour Party

Drayson has been a large contributor to the Labour Party, with BBC News reporting in 2005 that he "was made a lord and then the UK defence procurement minister after giving New Labour more than £1m." [8] He donated £100,000 in 2002 before PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc was awarded a £32 million contract for a smallpox vaccine. He donated £505,000 on 17 June 2004 six weeks after being appointed to the House of Lords by Tony Blair and a further £500,000 on 21 December 2004.[9]

Government

In May 2005 Drayson replaced Lord Bach as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Procurement and as Government Spokesman for Defence to the House of Lords. Drayson's responsibility for defence procurement in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was one of the most high-profile jobs in the MoD. His remit included oversight of the Defence Procurement Agency and Defence Logistics Organisation. In December 2005 Drayson published a report entitled The Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS).

On 6 March 2007 Drayson was promoted to Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support. He oversaw the new Defence Equipment and Support Organisation.[10] On 29 June 2007 he also became a Minister of State in the newly created Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, combining this with his role in the Ministry of Defence. He stood down from ministerial responsibilities on 7 November 2007. His official reason for stepping down was his wish to participate in the Le Mans race, but it has been reported that the actual reasons were being left out of the loop when Prime Minister Gordon Brown decided to disband the Defence Export Services Organisation and equipment budget deficits which would make the follow-up to the DIS largely irrelevant.[11] His job as Defence Procurement Minister was transferred to Lady Taylor.[12]

He rejoined the Brown government as Minister of State for Science and Innovation in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on 3 October 2008 following a cabinet reshuffle.[13]

Personal life

Drayson driving the Lola B09/60 at the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Drayson and his wife have five children, and live between homes in London and Nether Lypiatt Manor near Stroud in Gloucestershire, purchased for £5.75 million in 2006 from TRH Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.[14]

Self-described as a "car nut and I'm a Government minister",[15] he has owned an Aston Martin Vanquish, his wife an Aston Martin DB9, and his collection includes a Lotus Elan. He has also raced a bio-ethanol powered Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3-spec race car for Barwell Motorsport[16] in the British GT Championship. He competed in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).[12]

Drayson was born blind in one eye which, under FIA rules, prevented him from acquiring an international racing licence for participation in the Le Mans 24 Hours. In light of his performance during the 2008 ALMS season and FIA rule changes, he was granted an international licence to allow him the chance of competing in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans.[17] Drayson finished 37th overall and 12th in class at the race. He also competed at the 2010 event but failed to finish.

Drayson has currently competed in two seasons of the ALMS with a best finish of a win at the 2010 Road America race in a LMP Lola B09/60. For 2011, Drayson made the switch to the EV Cup, a new championship for electric cars. He will drive a Westfield iRACER.[18]

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2009 United Kingdom Drayson Racing United Kingdom Jonny Cocker
United Kingdom Marino Franchitti		 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 GT2 272 DNF DNF
2010 United Kingdom Drayson Racing United Kingdom Jonny Cocker
Italy Emanuele Pirro		 Lola B09/60-Judd LMP1 254 NC NC

Honours

He was elevated to the House of Lords in May 2004, made a working peer entitled Baron Drayson, of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. In July 2011, Drayson was elected as Fellow[1] of The Royal Academy of Engineering,[1] the UK's national academy for engineering.

Arms

References

  1. 1 2 3 "List of Fellows".
  2. ↑ The Independent: Lord Drayson – Britain's top gun
  3. ↑ MOD Website: Minister of State for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform
  4. ↑ John Dagys, "10 Questions With Paul Drayson", speedtv.com
  5. 1 2 Vaughan, Adam (4 August 2013). "Lord Drayson takes on UK air pollution crisis with new smart sensor". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Press release: ASTON UNIVERSITY PHD GRADUATE APPOINTED MINISTER FOR SCIENCE". Aston University. 7 October 2008.
  7. ↑ http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/lord-drayson-new-technology-power-devices-free/leadership-lessons/article/1401251
  8. ↑ Elliot Choueka (17 November 2005). "The irresistible rise of 'Tony's crony'". Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Peston, Robert (September 2008). Who Runs Britain?. London: Hodder & Stoughton. p. 275. ISBN 9780340839447.
  10. ↑ Lord Drayson appointed minister
  11. ↑ UK DIS falls into abeyance as Drayson decides to quit, Jane's Defence Weekly, 14 November 2007, p. 5
  12. 1 2 "Minister quits to race in Le Mans". BBC News. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
  13. ↑ Amos, Jonathan (3 October 2008). "Lord Drayson takes science brief". BBC News. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  14. ↑ Prufrock column, The Sunday Times, 23 July 2006.
  15. ↑ On the move: Lord Drayson Sunday Times – 20 October 2007
  16. ↑ www.barwellmotorsport.co.uk, Barwell Motorsport
  17. ↑ Drayson Racing News and Notes for 24 Hours of Le Mans Aston Martin Racing
  18. ↑ Matt Beer (23 February 2011). "Drayson quits ALMS for electric series". Autosport.com. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul Drayson.
Political offices
Preceded by
The Lord Bach		 Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support
2005–2007 		Succeeded by
The Baroness Taylor of Bolton
Preceded by
Ian Pearson		 Minister of State for Science and Innovation
2008–2010 		Succeeded by
David Willetts
as Minister of State for Universities and Science
New creation Minister of State for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform
2009–2010 		Succeeded by
TBD
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