 Lawson oversaw the sudden deregulation of financial markets in 1986, commonly referred to as the ’Big Bang’, which shifted the center of gravity for the world's financial markets to London from New York City.Lawson was a backbencher from 1989 until he retired in 1992, and now sits in the House of Lords.He is still active in politics as President of Conservatives for Britain, a campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, and is a prominent critic of the European Union.