COVID & Brexit: The Double-Wicked Challenge - Interview with Vicky Pryce

In the latest in its series of podcasts supported by the investment bank Stifel and its European President Eithne O’Leary, Jericho Chambers Partner, Matthew Gwyther speaks to Eithne plus four observers of the UK scene to hear their feelings about the last year and what now lies ahead for Britain as it faces an uncertain future.  The interviewees were Antony Jenkins, Vicky Pryce, Claer Barrett and Professor John Van Reenan of the London School of Economics.

Vicky Pryce is a Greek by birth but has lived in the UK for many years. She has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an economist in both the private sector and government service. During the Great Crash she was  Joint Head of the UK Government Economic Service from 2007 to 2010.

She has no doubt that the UK will be disadvantaged by Brexit. “While economists assume rational behaviour in most people but that doesn’t count for politics. I think the most fervent Brexiteers expect the EU to disintegrate following the UK’s departure – that this is the first act of the tragedy. But I would not forecast that. If anything, COVID may have brought them closer together. They seem unified if not united.”

Jericho Conversations is one of a number of initiatives that spontaneously emerged during the first COVID lockdown – part of a determination to use moments of crisis to pivot towards a better, fairer, more equitable and sustainable future for all. By popular demand, we have reignited the series to help find surprising and refreshing solutions and insights into a world in constant flux. Each conversation – led by an expert speaker – is designed to keep Jericho communities engaged and thinking about “what comes next?” for business and society.