Born in 1958 in West Runton. Educated at Paston Geammar School and Dundee University. Former civil servant, he served as British Ambassador to Uzbekistan from 2002 to 2004. He resigned from the civil service in 2004 after criticising human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. 

He has subsequently campaigned against torture and written several books. In 2005, he stood against Jack Straw as an Independent in Blackburn and just missed saving his deposit by a handful of votes. 

He is currently Rector of Dundee University and Executive Chairman of Atholl Energy Ltd.