Former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and President of the Board of Trade in the UK Coalition government. Former MP for Twickenham and Leader of the Liberal Democrat party. 

Professional economist. Prior to entering parliament was Chief Economist for Shell. 

Currently Visiting Professor LSE, Nottingham and Shenzhen Universities. Company Chair in the hydrogen and electric vehicle sectors. 

Author: The Eclipsing of the West; China, India and the Forging of a New Order.  Also, The Chinese Conundrum; Money and Power; The Storm; After the Storm; Open Arms (a political thriller set in India); Commerce of Culture (with L.C. Jain).