Journalist and diplomat Peter Jay dies at 87

Former economical writer and diplomat Peter Jay has died astatine the property of 87, his household has announced.

Tributes person been paid to him by colleagues successful some the governmental and media satellite pursuing the quality of his death.

His household said helium died “peacefully astatine home” connected Sunday.

He was a overmuch loved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, person and colleague

Family statement

“He was a overmuch loved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, person and colleague,” they added successful a statement.

Jay had been 1 of the country’s foremost economics commentators, with clip spent arsenic the economics exertion for some the BBC and The Times.

He was controversially appointed arsenic the UK’s ambassador to Washington successful 1977 by his past father-in-law James Callaghan, who was premier minister, amid Tory protests of “nepotism”.

Lord Owen, who was overseas caput astatine the time, said successful tribute: “Jim Callaghan did not get connected good with the sitting ambassador successful Washington truthful it was evident determination should beryllium a change.

“I was escaped to name idiosyncratic amended suited to the caller Carter medication and peculiarly (Zbigniew) Bzezinski, his nationalist information adviser.

“I chose connected merit Peter Jay and ne'er had immoderate origin to regret it, though I warned the premier curate the complaint of nepotism would arise.

“Before agelong helium was playing tennis regularly with Bzezinski, getting connected good with the young Georgians adjacent to the president and successful each respect proved to beryllium an fantabulous ambassador.”

Mr Carter was from Georgia and had been politician of the authorities earlier his presidency.

Current economics exertion astatine the BBC, Faisal Islam, paid tribute to his predecessor successful a station connected societal media, saying helium was “sad” to accidental Jay had passed away.

The writer posted connected X, formerly Twitter: “Famously told workfellow 1 of his analyzable pieces was written for an assemblage of 3, & helium wasn’t 1 of them… successful country with LBJ and Okun erstwhile they came up with the explanation of recession. Criticised the “bias against understanding”.

“Diplomat. Broadcaster. RIP”.

Jay was calved successful February 1937 and was the lad of Baron Jay who arsenic Douglas Jay was president of the Board of Trade nether Harold Wilson.

In 1961, helium joined Margaret Callaghan successful a ceremonial astatine the Crypt Chapel of the House of Commons.

The mates stayed successful Washington betwixt 1977 and 1979.

They had a lad and 2 daughters unneurotic and separated successful 1986.