Timothy Francis Clement-Jones

Lord Timothy Clement-Jones, CBE, FRSA, is a Liberal Democrat peer in the House of Lords, serving as the party’s spokesperson for Science, Innovation, and Technology. He has been a prominent advocate for artificial intelligence (AI) governance and regulation, chairing the House of Lords Select Committee on AI and co-founding the All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI.

Tim is a newly appointed Chair of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society. He is Deputy Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on China and Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Digital Regulation, The Future of Work, Music, Performers Alliance, Publishing, Writers and Intellectual Property.

Tim served as an external member of the Council of University College London and held the position of Chair of its Audit Committee. In 2023, he initiated and participated in the Special Inquiry Select Committee into AI in Weapons Systems. He is also a founding member of the OECD Parliamentary Group on AI and a former consultant to the Council of Europe’s Ad-hoc Committee on AI.

Lord Clement-Jones has contributed to AI policy through his authorship of the book Living with the Algorithm: Servant or Master? (2024), which addresses AI risks and regulatory approaches. His legislative work includes introducing and ensuring the passage of the 2003 Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship Act and the Live Music Act 2012.

He serves as a consultant on AI policy and regulation at DLA Piper, where he previously held roles including London Managing Partner and Head of UK Government Affairs. He is also the Chair of Trust Alliance Group (formerly Ombudsman Services), an independent dispute resolution service. Additionally, he is the former Chair of the Council of Queen Mary University of London and is President of Ambitious About Autism, a charity supporting education for children with autism.

He is a member of the Advisory Board of Airmic (the Association of Insurance and Risk Managers in Industry and Commerce), a Board Member of the Corporate Finance Faculty at ICAEW, and a consultant to the Council of Europe’s AI Working Group (CAHAI).

Educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College and Trinity College, Cambridge, Lord Clement-Jones was made a CBE for political services in 1988 and a life peer in 1998. He has held various leadership roles in the Liberal Democrats, including Chairman of the Liberal Party and Federal Treasurer.

Timothy Francis Clement-Jones, known as Lord Clement-Jones, was born on 26 October 1949. He is a Liberal Democrat peer and holds the title of Baron Clement-Jones, of Clapham in the London Borough of Lambeth. Lord Clement-Jones is widely recognised for his significant contributions to the digital economy, artificial intelligence, public policy, and education.

Clement-Jones was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College, and later at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied economics. His career began in the legal sector, holding senior legal positions at various organisations, including London Weekend Television (now ITV plc) from 1980 to 1983, and Grand Metropolitan (now Diageo plc) from 1984 to 1986. He then became the group company secretary and legal adviser of Kingfisher plc, serving from 1986 to 1995, where he played a key role in coordinating the company's contribution to the Shopping Hours Reform Campaign, which led to the Sunday Trading Act 1994.

In 1982, Clement-Jones became chairman of the Association of Liberal Lawyers, later serving as chairman of the Liberal Party from 1986 to 1988. He played an instrumental role in the merger of the Liberal Party with the Social Democratic Party, which led to the formation of the Liberal Democrats. He was made CBE for his political services in 1988. From 1989 to 1998, he served as chairman of the Liberal Democrats’ Finance Committee, and from 2005 to 2010, he was the federal treasurer of the Liberal Democrats.

In 1998, he was appointed a life peer in the House of Lords, assuming the title Baron Clement-Jones. He served as the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Health until 2004, and from 2004 to 2010, he was the party’s spokesman on Culture, Media, and Sport. From 2012, he became the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Digital and has been actively involved in shaping policies related to the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and online harms.

One of Clement-Jones' notable roles was as Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence from 2017 to 2018. During his tenure, he led discussions and initiatives on the ethical, social, and regulatory implications of AI. He was co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Artificial Intelligence, where he has advocated for the responsible development and implementation of AI technologies. Additionally, Clement-Jones served as a member of the AI in Weapons Systems Select Committee and the Industry and Regulators Committee.

As a member of various advisory and regulatory bodies, he was a founding member of the OECD’s Parliamentary Group on AI and has worked as a consultant on AI policy and regulation with the global law firm DLA Piper. His expertise and leadership have been invaluable in shaping the UK's stance on AI governance and its broader role in technological development.

Lord Clement-Jones is a consultant with the multinational law firm DLA Piper, where he held various roles, including London managing partner (2011–2016), head of UK government affairs, and chairman of the China and Middle East Desks. He also served as international business relations partner and co-chairman of global government relations at DLA Piper. His leadership within DLA Piper significantly enhanced the firm’s presence in China and the Middle East.

In addition, he has worked on various legal and regulatory matters across the globe, advising on international business relations and government affairs, particularly in the realm of AI and digital economy.

Lord Clement-Jones is the President of Ambitious About Autism, a national charity supporting education for children with autism and communication disorders. He served as its chairman from 2001 to 2008. He is the Former Chair of the Council of Queen Mary University of London and is a member of the advisory board of the Institute for Ethical AI in Education, led by Sir Anthony Seldon.

Further, he has held several other notable roles in education and charitable organisations. He was an external council member and chair of the audit committee at University College London (2012–2017), where he contributed to the university’s strategic direction and governance. Clement-Jones is a former trustee for Cancerbackup (now part of Macmillan Cancer Support), the UK cancer information charity founded by his late wife, Vicky Clement-Jones.

Lord Clement-Jones has played an active role in shaping UK public policy, particularly in the fields of health, culture, and digital regulation. He was responsible for introducing and ensuring the passage of two key pieces of legislation in the House of Lords: the Tobacco and Advertising and Sponsorship Act 2003 and the Live Music Act 2012. These laws addressed critical issues in public health and the live music industry, respectively.

His role in these legislative efforts, particularly in relation to public health and media regulation, highlights his commitment to balancing the needs of the public with the demands of business and innovation.

Beyond his political, professional, and charitable commitments, Lord Clement-Jones has been involved in various business and professional organisations. He served as a member of the Saudi British Joint Business Council and was an ambassador for the City of London Law Society. He is also an honorary fellow of the Public Relations Consultants Association and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Lord Clement-Jones envisions a future where technology, particularly artificial intelligence, is developed and governed responsibly to enhance human well-being while addressing ethical concerns. He advocates for robust regulations that balance innovation with public safety, ensuring AI serves as a beneficial tool across sectors like healthcare, education, and business. 

His vision extends to fostering an inclusive digital economy that embraces diversity and equality, with a focus on ensuring that technological advancements benefit all of society. He aims to drive policies that promote sustainable and ethical AI practices, empowering future generations to live harmoniously with technology.

Lord Clement-Jones authored the book Living with the Algorithm: Servant or Master? in 2024, which addresses the risks and regulatory frameworks surrounding AI, highlighting his leadership in AI policy.

He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for political services in 1988, a recognition of his longstanding impact in public life. In 1998, he was made a life peer, taking the title of Baron Clement-Jones of Clapham in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Lord Clement-Jones' work in digital policy earned him a prominent role in the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence from 2017 to 2018, where he chaired the committee’s exploration of AI’s societal implications. His leadership in this field has been widely acknowledged, further evidenced by his involvement as a co-founder of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI.

Additionally, he has served in various capacities within professional and academic organisations, such as his position as Chair of the Council of Queen Mary University of London and his honorary roles in Ambitious About Autism and other educational institutions.