Ed Vaizey

Ed Vaizey (Lord Vaizey of Didcot) is a member of the House of Lords, appointed in 2020, and sits on the Communications and Media Committee. He was the Member of Parliament for Wantage between 2005 and 2019. He served as the UK Government Culture and Digital Minister from 2010-16, and is the longest-serving minister in that role. He was appointed a Privy Councillor in 2016.

In his role as digital minister, Ed was responsible for the roll out of the successful rural broadband programme to more than 4 million homes, and the introduction of 4G, and tax credits for film, television, animation and video games, which have helped make the creative industries the fastest growing part of the UK economy. In addition, he played a key role in putting coding in the national curriculum for schools, and in attracting inward investment to the UK tech economy. Ed also helped persuade Lucas Films to make the new 'Star Wars' in the UK, and received an on-screen credit in the first film of the series. He currently serves as a trustee of the National Youth Theatre, the Documentary Society and London Music Masters, and is a patron of Kids in Museums.