Andrew Adonis,
Baron Adonis of Camden, PC

Before entering politics, Lord Adonis was an academic and journalist whose work focused on constitutional analysis. He was Public Policy Editor of the Financial Times and is a Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford.

After his elevation to the House of Lords in 2005, Lord Adonis became Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department of Education and Skills, where he supported the expansion of academies; greater independence for schools and Local Education Authorities from the State; the Teach First scheme and tuition fees, policies which have won him support from Michael Gove.

He moved to the Department of Transport in 2008, starting as Minister of State, and was then promoted to Transport Secretary in 2009. During his tenure, he spearheaded the initiative to develop new high-speed rail lines between London, Northern England and Scotland.

He is currently the Director of the Institute for Government, an independent charity that promotes government effectiveness.