Ruth Lea



Profile:
Full name: Ruth Jane Lea

Area of interest: Economics, (esp. UK economy); Europe, (esp. EU issues); Education issues

Journals/Organisation: The Daily Telegraph

Email: Global Vision contact page

Personal website:

Website:

Blog: Blogs.Telegraph.co / Ruth Lea

Representation: Gordon Poole Agency | CMM | NYT

Networks:



Biography:
About:

Education: Lymm Grammar School; York University: BA and Bristol University: MSc - Economics and Statistics

Career: Sixteen years experience in the Civil Service: The Treasury, Department of Trade and Industry, Central Statistical Office, Civil Service College - in this period also taught economics at Thames Polytechnic (University of Greenwich); joined Mitsubishi Bank, 1988, becoming their Chief Economist, moved to Lehman Brothers as Chief Economist; Economics Editor at ITN; Head of the Policy Unit at the Institute of Directors, 1995/2003; has also served on the Council of the  Royal Economic Society, National Consumer Council, Nurses’ Pay Review Body,  ONS Statistics Advisory Committee,  ESRC  Research Priorities Board, Retail Prices Advisory Committee

Current position/role: Director of Global Vision


 * also writes/written for:

Other roles/Main role: Non-Executive Director and Economic Adviser to Arbuthnot Banking Group; a Governor of the London School of Economics; a member of the University of London Council; non-executive director of Arbuthnot Banking Group plc (economic adviser)

Other activities:

Disclosures:

Viewpoints/Insight:
 * BBC Radio 4: Any Questions? June 2007 (audio)+(transcript)

Broadcast media: Frequent appearances on TV and radio

Video:

Controversy/Criticism: Peter Oborne: A nasty plot in Pall Mall, The Spectator, May 2004

Awards/Honours:

Scoops:

Other:



Books & Debate:

 * Many papers and policy study documents on economic matters, see: CPS historic catalogue

Latest work:

Speaking/Appearances: Regular business speaker

Debate: 

All Journals:

 * No regular column



Articles:

 * Reasons to be cheerful about the British economy - The UK outlook is rosy despite dire predictions about the effects of Brexit - 11th February 2017
 * Ruth Lea - Forecasters have been much too pessimistic about Brexit - 28th November 2016
 * No sign of light in the long eurozone tunnel - Europe’s leaders must soon choose one of three solutions to the worsening situation. All involve more pain - 2nd May 2013
 * Does Britain's destiny lie at the heart of Europe? - With David Cameron's speech on Britain and its relationship with Europe reverberating throughout the continent, the Observer commentator and pro-European Will Hutton goes head to head with economist and Eurosceptic Ruth Lea on an issue that will define our country's place in the world - 27th January 2013
 * Women make different choices. That’s not bias - Britain doesn’t need ‘golden skirts’. They are bad for business and bad for equality - 7th January 2013
 * kind to the bankers – or get shopping'' - The City is our most successful exporter. With consumers feeling the pinch in 2011, we’re going to need it - 30th December 2010
 * bailout is not enough to save the euro'' - Ireland, Greece and Portugal will never recover locked in the single-currency straitjacket - 23rd November 2010 (writing in The Times)
 * the bullet. Kick Greece out of the euro'' - The cracks in the currency have long been apparent. The Greeks have acted irresponsibly and must pay the penalty - 16th February 2010
 * recovery will turn to a cold winter'' - The markets are rallying and confidence is returning, but don’t be fooled: there can be only hard economic times ahead - 26th August 2009
 * bashing is pure hypocrisy'' - The Chancellor knows the days of easy lending are over. It was his Government that let debt run wild - 29th July 2009
 * Why bother with the G20? - The G20 discussions of tax havens, bonuses and regulation are distractions from the real issues facing the global economy - 27th March 2009
 * Report: This is not 'responsible' borrowing, Mr Prime Minister'' - 25th November 2008
 * The proposed 45p tax rate is the thin end of the wedge - 24th November 2008
 * Pre-Budget report: Gordon Brown got us into this mess - The pre-Budget report will, we hope, be an occasion for the truth. We hope that Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, will stand up and tell us just how badly the Treasury expects the economy to perform over the next two years - 22nd November 2008
 * The rescue plan is bold and welcome - By providing much-needed capital and unlimited liquidity, the government's strategy should underpin confidence in UK banks - 8th October 2008
 * a credit crunch we must trade with all'' - Russia's behaviour in Georgia has been contemptible but David Cameron is unwise to suggest banning Russians from shopping here - 23rd August 2008
 * In a credit crunch, we still have to trade with dubious regimes - David Cameron is unwise to suggest banning Russians from shopping here, says Ruth Lea - 21st August 2008
 * A strike against good sense - Council workers' call for a better pay deal are understandable, but we would all pay the price - 17th July 2008
 * The right to request flexible working: good for some but not for all - The news that the Government is intending to extend the right to request flexible working, as part of its popular “family friendly” policy agenda, comes as no surprise - 16th May 2008
 * Spare us the meddlers - Take a deep breath: the system is not collapsing, and the last thing we need is more regulation - 10th April 2008
 * Tories' economic legacy has been squandered - The spectacle of worried customers besieging the branches of Northern Rock is symbolic of an understandable and rising uncertainty about the British economy - 17th September 2007
 * Brussels is out to clobber the City - It is quite right and proper that much of the current debate on Britain's relationship with the EU centres on the reform treaty. It is also quite right and proper that there are vigorous calls for a referendum on the treaty - 17th August 2007
 * Brown must stand up for British interests - Last Wednesday, our new Prime Minister announced that he would be "strong in purpose, steadfast in will, resolute in action in the service of what matters to the British people" - 30th June 2007
 * Why Europe needs to loosen up - The European Union is back in the news... A new EU treaty is being drafted by the German presidency. It will almost certainly be a "slimmed-down" version of the 2004 Constitutional Treaty that was rejected by the French and Dutch electorates - 29th April 2007
 * Spare us the meddlers - Take a deep breath: the system is not collapsing, and the last thing we need is more regulation - 10th April 2007
 * Just another excuse for higher taxes - The much-leaked Stern report was released yesterday amid alarmist and apocalyptic hype - 31st October 2006
 * Gordon Brown's squandered legacy - Gordon Brown is currently preparing his last Pre-Budget Report, which could be his last shout or, possibly, his penultimate shout as Chancellor. Doubtless his analysis of his management of the economy will be strong on self-congratulation and weak on self-criticism. A balanced assessment will not be on the cards. In truth, his management has been very mixed indeed - 27th October 2006
 * The wealth service - A new documentary says businesses are like psychopaths. What does corporate champion Ruth Lea make of it? - 22nd October 2004
 * Why I hate the euro - Economic and Monetary Union is almost here - a hugely risky economic and political undertaking for 11 of the EU's member states - 31st December 1998



News & updates:


References:


Links:

 * Centre for Policy Studies: news archive
 * Wikipedia biog