Paul Drayson, Baron Drayson Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
The Lord Drayson
Office:Minister of State for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform
Primeminister:Gordon Brown
Term Start:8 June 2009
Term End:11 May 2010
Predecessor:Position established
Successor:The Lord Astor of Hever
Office2:Minister of State for Science and Innovation
Primeminister2:Gordon Brown
Term Start2:3 October 2008
Term End2:11 May 2010
Predecessor2:Ian Pearson
Successor2:David Willetts (Universities and Science)
Office3:Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support
Primeminister3:Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
Term Start3:6 May 2005
Term End3:7 November 2007
Predecessor3:The Lord Bach
Successor3:The Baroness Taylor of Bolton
Office6:Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Term Start6:8 June 2004
Life Peerage
Birth Date:1960 3, df=yes
Party:Labour
Residence:Nether Lypiatt Manor
Alma Mater:Aston University
Profession:Businessman
Spouse:Elspeth Bellhouse
Children:5
Relations:Brian Bellhouse (father-in-law)
Years:
Team(S):Drayson Racing
Best Finish:28th/NC
Class Wins:0

Paul Rudd Drayson, Baron Drayson, [1] (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, 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 Drayson 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, Drayson was the Chairman of the BioIndustry Association. From 2002 to 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.

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]

Drayson 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]

Sensyne Health

Sensyne Health, floated on the AIM in 2018, uses NHS data to provide clinical insights to the pharmaceutical industry.In 2020 Drayson was accused of creating a culture of fear at Sensyne.[14] It had data-sharing agreements with 12 NHS trusts, which were given shares in the company.[15]

In April 2022 Drayson was ousted as chief executive,[16] shortly after the company's financial report claimed that it would run out of money by February 2022.[17]

Personal life

Drayson is married to Elspeth Bellhouse, the daughter of scientist Brian Bellhouse.[18] They 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 Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.[19]

Self-described as a "car nut and I'm a Government minister",[20] 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[21] in the British GT Championship. He competed in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

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.[22] 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.[23]

24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLaps
2009 Drayson Racing Jonny Cocker
Marino Franchitti
Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2GT2272DNFDNF
2010 Drayson Racing Jonny Cocker
Emanuele Pirro
Lola B09/60-JuddLMP1254NCNC

Honours

Drayson was elevated to the House of Lords on 1 June 2004, made a working peer titled 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

Year Adopted:2007
Coronet:Coronet of a Baron
Escutcheon:Sable a Mullet of eight points gyronny Or and Argent between four strands of DNA issuing in saltire Argent and four strands of DNA issuing in cross Or
Supporters:On either side a Jaguar Sable holding in the interior forepaw a Rapier Argent hilt pommel and guard Or
Badge:A Jaguar rampant Sable holding in the dexter forepaw a Rapier Argent hilt pommel and guard Or
Motto:SEEK KNOWLEDGE
Symbolism:The grantee's interests in fencing and motor racing are featured as is his career in the pharmaceutical industry which is reflected in the strands of DNA.

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Fellows. 16 October 2014. 8 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160608094405/http://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/people-council-committees/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows. dead.
  2. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/lord-drayson-britains-top-gun-422925.html The Independent: Lord Drayson – Britain's top gun
  3. Web site: MOD Website: Minister of State for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform . 29 April 2010 . 13 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100513074259/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/People/Ministers/MinisterOfStateForStrategicDefenceAcquisitionReform.htm . dead .
  4. http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-10-questions-with-paul-drayson/ John Dagys, "10 Questions With Paul Drayson", speedtv.com
  5. News: Lord Drayson takes on UK air pollution crisis with new smart sensor. 4 August 2013 . 7 September 2015 . Adam . Vaughan . The Guardian .
  6. Web site: Press release: ASTON UNIVERSITY PHD GRADUATE APPOINTED MINISTER FOR SCIENCE. Aston University. 7 October 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717201448/http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/news/releases/2008/october/081007/. 17 July 2011. dmy-all.
  7. Web site: Saunders . Andrew . Lord Drayson on new Freevolt technology that could power devices for free . Managementtoday.co.uk . 6 July 2016 . 29 June 2017.
  8. News: The irresistible rise of 'Tony's crony'. Elliot Choueka. 17 November 2005. 26 June 2013.
  9. Book: Peston. Robert. Who Runs Britain?. September 2008. Hodder & Stoughton. London. 9780340839447. 275.
  10. http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11182.asp 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. News: Minister quits to race in Le Mans. BBC News. 7 November 2007. 7 November 2007.
  13. News: Lord Drayson takes science brief. BBC News. 3 October 2008. 4 October 2008 . Jonathan . Amos.
  14. News: Sensyne chief accused of creating 'culture of fear' at tech start-up. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211211248/https://www.ft.com/content/7cad11da-f26b-4a56-a340-d09ba493a379. 11 December 2022. subscription. live. Financial Times. 23 April 2020. Croft. Jane. 31 July 2020.
  15. News: Trusts left with valueless company shares given in exchange for patient data . 26 August 2022 . Health Service Journal . 1 July 2022.
  16. News: Sensyne boss Lord Drayson ousted in bid for survival.
  17. News: Sensyne healthier without Drayson.
  18. Web site: Andrew Clark . Interview: Paul Drayson, Powderject Pharmaceuticals | Business . The Guardian . 19 January 2002 . 29 June 2017.
  19. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-2281154,00.html Prufrock column
  20. http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/features/article2690488.ece On the move: Lord Drayson
  21. http://www.barwellmotorsport.co.uk www.barwellmotorsport.co.uk
  22. http://www.astonmartinracing.com/eng/news?a=d8b7e03b-2667-4f7a-9869-9f718919fc78 Drayson Racing News and Notes for 24 Hours of Le Mans
  23. Web site: Drayson quits ALMS for electric series . Autosport.com . Matt Beer . 23 February 2011 . 23 February 2011.