From Bedlam to Newsnight

I've been skimming the web for info on Newsnight's new economics editor, Duncan Weldon, so you don't have to. He likes graphs, measuring the government's financial reputation through gilts, and Star Trek. I find much of what he has written as a prolific economics and politics blogger very difficult to understand.

As a student at Somerville College, Oxford University, he banked with Lloyds, and has made plain his annoyance with their overdraft charges.  Amongst his contemporaries studying PPE was Will Straw, now nursing Rossendale and Darwen for Labour, next to his dad's constituency in Blackburn. Both were officers of the Oxford University Student Union.

In March 2004, he was part of a rally at Oxford Town Hall in support of University lecturers, representing the Oxford University Labour Club : "It is important that academics and students stand together to oppose the privatisation of Higher Education".

Later in 2004, he was working at the Bank of England in the policy advisory unit.

In 2006 he joined Bedlam Asset Management (yes, named after the asylum) as an investment analyst. In 2008 he followed three Bedlam managers who set up Senhouse Capital LLP, where he was a partner until late 2009.

In December 2009 he was mentioned as a possible Labour candidate as MP for Wansbeck - he was born in Ashington, and went to Hirst High School. Nothing materialised. During 2009, he began writing for Will Straw's website Left Foot Foward.

In January 2010, he took a job as Research Officer with the Labour Party, spending five months working in the Policy and Research Division in Victoria Street in the run-up to the election. In May 2010 he stood for Labour in council elections in the Crouch End Ward of Haringey, picking up 1,300 votes, but still coming fifth, behind three (elected) Libdems, and Richard Messingham, for Labour.

From May to July 2010 he was an economics adviser to Harriet Harman, in her role as acting Labour leader.

In July 2010 he joined the International Transport Workers Union as a "strategic researcher" based in London.

In September 2010 Duncan voted for Ed Balls as his first choice as party leader, when Ed Miliband won through. He then backed fellow-Keynesian Balls as Shadow Chancellor.

In November 2010, he signed a Liberal Conspiracy letter of support to Harriet Harman about the expulsion of Phil Woolas, thus: "Duncan Weldon, Hornsey & Wood Green CLP".

In September 2011 he joined the TUC as Senior Policy Officer covering macroeconomics.

@yorksranter @maxrothbarth @dsquareddigest Crouch End & Holloway Left of Centre Economics Caucus Drinks soon?
— Duncan Weldon (@DuncanWeldon) September 21, 2011

In November 2011, he was mentioned by Lord (Maurice) Glasman, prime mover of 'Blue Labour', as one involved in discussions, along with James Purnell, now the BBC's Director of Strategy and Digital : "Just so people understand the context, there’s a number of people – Jon Cruddas, Marc Stears, Duncan Weldon (an economist at the TUC), James Purnell, and others – who are part of this conversation".

Here's a link to the BBC guidelines on conflict of interest and politics. I suspect he's been asked to leave his politics "at the door", and if James Purnell can get away with it, so can Duncan.