Speaker Profile: Lord (Daniel) Finkelstein OBE

Daniel Finkelstein is a columnist, broadcaster and former Executive Editor and Associate Editor of The Times. He is also a member of the Lords and has served as an advisor to the Conservative Party.

Daniel began his career as Chair of the Young Social Democrats, a group of whom went on to join the Conservatives. After serving as director of a Westminster think tank focusing on social policy, he became a political advisor to John Major and then William Hague and Secretary to the Shadow Cabinet. He played an early role in attempts to modernise the party alongside the likes of David Cameron and George Osborne.

Following a brief spell in data communications, Daniel joined The Times, started their blog, and worked his way up to the leader columns. He's also written a highly regarded and very distinctive statistics-based football review, and regular columns for The Jewish Chronicle.

Known for taking an objective, insider's view of Westminster, Daniel is a prominent commentator in the media, and a regular on Radio 4's satirical panel show The News Quiz. His talks provide a sharp and entertaining insight into the political scene examining the key policies and personalities with wry humour and genuine knowledge.

His book Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad is a moving, personal and at times horrifying memoir about Daniel’s parents’ experiences at the hands of the two genocidal dictators of the 20th century. Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box was shortlisted for the Practical Politics Book of the Year at The Paddy Power Political Book Awards.