Ruth Lea
Encyclopedia
Ruth Jane Lea is a British economist
, who works in the financial sector and has also worked in the Civil Service, policy research bodies and the media.
Born in Cheshire
, she attended Lymm Grammar School
, and the Universities of York
and Bristol
. She spent nearly sixteen years in the British Civil Service
, working in the Treasury
, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Central Statistical Office
and the Civil Service College.
She then moved into the City of London
, where she was Chief Economist at Mitsubishi Bank, where she became a regular television and radio interviewee on economic matters, and Chief UK Economist at Lehman Brothers
. She was then Economics Editor at ITN; Head of the Policy Unit at the Institute of Directors
, a post which she held between 1995 and 2003. She was famously sacked from the Institute of Directors, allegedly after pressure from the Labour government. She was Director of the Centre for Policy Studies
from 2004 to 2007 and Director of Global Vision Global Vision
, from 2007 to 2010. She is also a former governor of the London School of Economics
She serves as Economic Advisor to the Arbuthnot Banking Group
, having been since 2005 a Non-Executive Director. She writes for various publications on economic matters, including The Guardian
and The Daily Telegraph. In February 2011, Ruth Lea decided not to renew her Conservative Party
membership.
She is on the Advisory Council of Reform
.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, who works in the financial sector and has also worked in the Civil Service, policy research bodies and the media.
Born in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, she attended Lymm Grammar School
Lymm High School
Lymm High School is an English comprehensive school, located in Lymm, Warrington, Cheshire, of which the grammar school part had a history stretching back to the late 16th century...
, and the Universities of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
and Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
. She spent nearly sixteen years in the British Civil Service
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
, working in the Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Central Statistical Office
Central Statistical Office, UK
The Central Statistical Office was a British government department charged with the collection and publication of economic statistics for the United Kingdom...
and the Civil Service College.
She then moved into the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, where she was Chief Economist at Mitsubishi Bank, where she became a regular television and radio interviewee on economic matters, and Chief UK Economist at Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Before declaring bankruptcy in 2008, Lehman was the fourth largest investment bank in the USA , doing business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (former NYSE ticker...
. She was then Economics Editor at ITN; Head of the Policy Unit at the Institute of Directors
Institute of Directors
The Institute of Directors is a UK-based organisation, established in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906 to support, represent and set standards for company directors...
, a post which she held between 1995 and 2003. She was famously sacked from the Institute of Directors, allegedly after pressure from the Labour government. She was Director of the Centre for Policy Studies
Centre for Policy Studies
The Centre for Policy Studies is a British right wing policy think tank whose goal is to promote coherent and practical public policy, to roll back the state, reform public services, support communities, and challenge threats to Britain’s independence...
from 2004 to 2007 and Director of Global Vision Global Vision
Global Vision
Global Vision is a Canadian non-profit organization founded in 1991 by Terry Clifford, two-term Member of Parliament for the London—Middlesex riding ....
, from 2007 to 2010. She is also a former governor of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
She serves as Economic Advisor to the Arbuthnot Banking Group
Arbuthnot Latham & Co
Arbuthnot Latham & Co is a small private bank based in Moorgate in the City of London in the UK. It has the status of one of the twelve accepting houses....
, having been since 2005 a Non-Executive Director. She writes for various publications on economic matters, including The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and The Daily Telegraph. In February 2011, Ruth Lea decided not to renew her Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
membership.
She is on the Advisory Council of Reform
Reform (think tank)
Reform is a British centre-right, liberal, think tank based in London, whose declared mission is to set out a better way to deliver public services and economic prosperity via private sector involvement and market de-regulation. Reform describes itself as independent and non-partisan...
.
External links
- Ruth Lea article column at The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...