Background
Peston was born in 1931 in London, the son of Abraham Peston & Yetta R. (née Malt).
economist university professor author
Peston was born in 1931 in London, the son of Abraham Peston & Yetta R. (née Malt).
He was educated at Belle Vue Boys" School, Bradford, West Yorkshire and Hackney Downs School, and then graduated from the London School of Economics and Princeton University.
His research interests include macroeconomic policy and the economics of education. The couple believed passionately in state education, and sent Robert to the local comprehensive, Highgate Wood School, in Crouch End, north London. Academia
Peston founded the economics department at Queen Mary College, London, and advised various government departments and Labour Secretaries of State from the 1960s through to the 1990s.
He remains an Emeritus Professor of Economics at the College.
House of Lords
Peston was created a life peer as Baron Peston, of Mile End, in Greater London on 24 March 1987. He immediately became Opposition Spokesperson for Energy (until 1997) and Education & Science (until 1997).
He also served as Opposition Spokesperson on the Treasury (1990-1992) and Trade & Industry (1992-1997). He chaired the House of Lords Offices Refreshments Sub-committee from 1993 to 1997.
When Labour took over government, he chaired the influential House of Lords Committee on Economic Affairs from 1998 until 2005.
Since then he has worked on the Lords Constitution Committee, and on the committee reviewing the British Broadcasting Corporation Charter. Other interests.