Lord Hanson is a British conservative industrialist who has built his businesses through the process of leveraged buyouts.

He is well known for his support of ex-Tory MP Neil Hamilton, who became famous for his involvement in the "cash for questions" affair in the 1990s.

Hanson is also an active "Eurosceptic": he is opposed to Britain joining the Euro, and is a founding member of Business for Britain, an anti-EU organisation. He is also a member of the Bruges Group, which advocates a substantial renegotiation of Britain's relationship with the EU, or if that is not possible, total withdrawal from the EU.