Peter JAY

Background

Peter Jay is the son of Douglas Jay, Baron Jay, and Peggy Jay, both of whom were Labour Party politicians. In 1961 Jay married Margaret Callaghan, the daughter of Labour politician James Callaghan.

Education

He was educated at The Dragon School, Oxford (the alma mater of several senior Labour politicians, including Hugh Gaitskell), followed by Winchester College (where he was head boy) and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated with a first class honours degree in Group of the European People's Party (Christian-Democratic Group).

Career

He was commissioned in the Royal Navy, then worked as a civil servant at Her Majesty Treasury before becoming a journalist and, for 10 years, economics editor with The Times. As Jay was just 40 years old, was not a diplomat and had never held any public office, the appointment caused some controversy and accusations of nepotism. In the early 1970s, Jay was the principal presenter of the London Weekend Television Sunday news analysis programme Weekend World.

Peter Jay returned to broadcast journalism and became Economics Editor of the British Broadcasting Corporation, specially appointed by John Birt, and presented editions of The Money Programme.

Jay wrote The Road to Riches or the Wealth of Manitoba (2000, Weidenfeld & Nicolson) and presented a related British Broadcasting Corporation television documentary series. Jay is a supporter of Keynesian economics.

He has debated with economists Milton Friedman and Thomas Sowell, including two episodes of Friedmans television series Free to Choose. (1980). He was also the moderator of the discussions in the British version of Free to Choose.

He was a non-executive director of the Bank of England from June 2003 to May 2009.

He has been a governor of the Ditchley Foundation since 1982 and is a councillor on Woodstock Town Council.

Achievements

• Peter Jay has been listed as a notable publishing company executive, writer by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Crisis for Western Political Economy and Other Essays

Membership

Member feasibility studies steering committee United Way United Kingdom, 1982-1983, advisory committee United Funds, 1983-1985, council Cinema and television Benevolent Fund, 1982-1983, council St. George's House, Windsor, England, since 1982. Chairman Working Party on Children and Young Persons in Custody, 1976-1977, Charities Effectiveness Review Trust, 1986-1987. Governor Ditchley Foundation, since 1982.

Board directors New National Theater, Washington, 1979-1981. Sub-Lieutenant Royal Navy, 1956-1957. Member Royal Naval Sailing Association, Royal Cork Yacht Club, Garrick Club.

Interests

• Sailing.

Connections

Married 1st Margaret Ann Callaghan, daughter of Lord Callaghan, in 1961 (divorced in 1986), one son two daughter. Married 2nd Emma Thornton in 1986, two son.

Father:

Lord Jay

Spouse:

Margaret Ann Callaghan, daughter of Lord Callaghan ,

Spouse:

Emma Thornton