British historian of the Spanish world, he was chairman of the Center for Policy Studies from 1979 to 1990. He was an adviser to one of its founders Margaret Thatcher. He was also a novelist.
His wife is an artist. Sheis the daughter of Lord and Lady Gladwyn.
Member of the Labour Party until 1974, member of the Conservative Party from 1981 to 1998 and then joined the Liberal Democrats in 1998 then later sat as a Crossbencher.
Was then chairman of the neoliberal Centre for Policy Studies in London from 1979 to 1991.