Economic Advisory Committee

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The British Labour Party's Economic Advisory Committee was in 2015-16 a group of economists, described as experts on globalisation, inequality and innovation,[1] convened by Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and reporting to Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn, announced on 27 September 2015 at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton,[2] and intended to meet on a quarterly basis to discuss and develop ideas around the official economic strategy to be advocated by the Labour Party,[3] but not to set policy.[4] It has been described as a way to give the Shadow Chancellor defensive cover.[5]

In June 2016 Piketty and Blanchflower left, and the remaining members of the Economic Advisory Committee announced they had decided to postpone any further meetings, in the wake of the resignation of numerous members of the Shadow Cabinet in protest over Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. Wren-Lewis cites the Labour leadership's acquiescence of Brexit as his reason for resigning from the Committee.[6]

  1. ^ Boland, Stephanie (28 September 2015). "Who is advising Jeremy Corbyn on economics?". New Statesman. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Labour conference: Economists Piketty and Stiglitz to advise Corbyn". BBC News. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Corbyn reveals big names in new Economic Advisory Committee". LabourList. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  4. ^ Giles, Chris (28 September 2015). "Team McDonnell: meet Labour's seven economic advisers". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  5. ^ Pickard, Jim (29 January 2016). "Enfant terrible of hard left learns language of conciliation". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  6. ^ Wren-Lewis, Simon (30 December 2018). "Labour's refusal to oppose Brexit is becoming a historic error". New Statesman. Retrieved 31 December 2018.