Maurice Peston, Baron Peston of Mile End
Encyclopedia
Maurice Harry Peston, Baron Peston (born 1931), is an English
economist
and parliamentarian. His research interests include macroeconomic policy and the economics of education.
, and then graduated from the London School of Economics
and Princeton University
.
He is married to a former NHS
employee, their son being Robert Peston
, the BBC's business editor. The couple believed passionately in state education, and sent Robert to the local comprehensive, Highgate Wood School, in Crouch End
, north 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.
as Baron Peston, of Mile End
, in 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 (1990–92) and Trade & Industry (1992–97). 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 BBC Charter
.
, and a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
economist
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...
and parliamentarian. His research interests include macroeconomic policy and the economics of education.
Personal
Peston was educated at Hackney Downs SchoolHackney Downs School
Hackney Downs School was a comprehensive secondary school, located near Hackney Downs off the A104 north of Hackney town centre, in the London Borough of Hackney.-Grocers' Company's School:...
, and then graduated from 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...
and Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
He is married to a former NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
employee, their son being Robert Peston
Robert Peston
Robert Peston is a British journalist. Since February 2006, he has been the Business Editor for BBC News. He became known to a wider public with his reporting of the late-2000s financial crisis, especially with his scoop on the Northern Rock crisis.-Early life and education:Peston is the son of...
, the BBC's business editor. The couple believed passionately in state education, and sent Robert to the local comprehensive, Highgate Wood School, in Crouch End
Crouch End
Crouch End is an area of north London, in the London Borough of Haringey.- Location :Crouch End is in a valley between Harringay to the east, Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green to the north, Finsbury Park and Archway to the south and Highgate to the west...
, north London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
.
Academia
Peston founded the economics department at Queen Mary College, LondonQueen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, and advised various government departments and Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
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 peerLife peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Peston, of Mile End
Mile End
Mile End is an area within the East End of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross...
, in 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 (1990–92) and Trade & Industry (1992–97). He chaired the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
Offices Refreshments Sub-committee from 1993 to 1997.
When Labour took over government, he chaired the influential House of Lords Committee on Economic Affairs
Economic Affairs Committee (House of Lords)
The Economic Affairs Committee is a select committee of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It has a broad remit "to consider economic affairs".-Membership:As of 24 November 2010, the members of the committee are as follows:...
from 1998 until 2005. Since then he has worked on the Lords Constitution Committee
Constitution Committee (House of Lords)
The Constitution Committee is a cross-party select committee of the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Committee’s remit is “to examine the constitutional implications of all public bills coming before the House; and to keep under review the operation of...
, and on the committee reviewing the BBC Charter
BBC Charter
The BBC Charter established the BBC . An accompanying Agreement recognises its editorial independence and sets out its public obligations in detail....
.
Other interests
Lord Peston is an Honorary Associate of the National Secular SocietyNational Secular Society
The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
, and a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
.