Sir Digby Jones's appointment as a trade minister in the House of Lords will provide a louder voice for Britain in promoting exports, from a man who has never hidden his fierce patriotism - nor his scepticism about things European.

As director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, he travelled widely to bang the drum for the UK. He visited 88 countries and opened offices to represent British business in Washington and Beijing. Last year, he became special business adviser to the Duke of York, who is the UK's special representative for international trade and investment.