Liam Halligan: Economist, Journalist, Author, and Broadcaster
Liam Halligan is a highly respected British economist, journalist, author and broadcaster whose career spans over three decades. Known for his sharp economic insights, clear communication style and investigative approach to policy analysis, he has become one of the UK’s most recognisable voices on finance, politics and global affairs. Over the years, Halligan has written extensively for leading publications, presented acclaimed documentaries, and earned a reputation for independent thinking. This article provides a comprehensive look at his life, education, career, family, and the reasons behind his departure from GB News.
Early Life and Education
Childhood and Upbringing
Liam James Halligan was born on 29 April 1969 in London, making him 56 years old in 2025. He grew up in Kingsbury, north-west London, in a working-class Irish family. His upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of determination and an early interest in public life and economics.
Schooling
He attended John Lyon School in Harrow, where he studied on a scholarship. Halligan excelled academically and in extra-curricular activities, becoming Head Boy while also playing football at a competitive level and winning awards in music and drama. His ability to balance leadership, study and creativity would serve him well in his professional career.
University Studies
Halligan earned a first-class degree in Economics from the University of Warwick, graduating in 1991. His performance won him prizes and marked him as a standout economist of his generation. He went on to pursue postgraduate study at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, where he completed an MPhil in Economics and Econometrics. During this time, he also took part in university life, including rowing for the Oxford University Boat Club and serving on student committees.
Halligan later worked with the London School of Economics as a researcher at the Centre for Economic Performance, co-founding the Russian Economic Trends project which provided independent macroeconomic data in post-Soviet Russia.
Early Career and Journalism
Research and Policy Work
Before moving into mainstream journalism, Halligan worked with the Social Market Foundation and undertook internships with the International Monetary Fund and the International Food Policy Research Institute. This early exposure to policy, research and international finance gave him valuable experience and contacts among leading economists and politicians.
Move to Russia
In the mid-1990s, Halligan lived in Moscow, reporting for The Economist, The Moscow Times, and the Economist Intelligence Unit. He covered Russia’s turbulent transition years after the fall of the Soviet Union, reporting on elections, privatisation and the challenges of economic reform. His column “The Invisible Hand” in The Moscow Times gained recognition for its insight into Russia’s economic and political struggles.
Financial Times and Channel 4
From 1996 to 1998, Halligan worked as a Political Correspondent at the Financial Times, covering Westminster politics. In 1998, he joined ITN’s Channel 4 News as Economics Correspondent, where he remained for nearly eight years. During this period, he reported extensively on business and finance, gained significant live broadcasting experience, and also produced several high-profile documentaries for Channel 4’s Dispatches.
Career at The Telegraph
In 2002, Halligan joined The Sunday Telegraph as Economics Commentator. His weekly “Economic Agenda” column has since become one of the paper’s longest-running and most widely read features. It has won multiple awards, including the British Press Award for Business and Finance Columnist of the Year.
In 2020, Halligan co-created and co-presented Planet Normal, a podcast for The Telegraph alongside columnist Allison Pearson. The podcast has consistently ranked highly in the UK iTunes news charts, discussing politics, economics and social issues in a conversational yet rigorous style.
Broadcast and Documentary Work
Beyond print, Halligan has built a reputation as a broadcaster. Since 2005, he has written and presented a series of acclaimed documentaries for Channel 4’s Dispatches. These have tackled issues such as pensions, private finance initiatives and corporate scandals, with several of his investigations sparking parliamentary inquiries.
He has also appeared regularly as a commentator on the BBC, Sky News, CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg and LBC. His ability to simplify complex economic topics for general audiences has made him a sought-after guest and panellist.
Finance and Business Roles
Halligan combined journalism with practical finance roles. From 2007 to 2013, he was Chief Economist at Prosperity Capital Management, a London and Moscow-based investment firm managing billions in assets. He advised institutional investors worldwide and was part of the portfolio management team.
He later worked with New Sparta Holdings alongside economist Jerome Booth, helping to build an investment portfolio across telecoms, film and media. Halligan has also been Editor-at-Large at bne IntelliNews, covering economic and political developments across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
GB News and Departure
Joining GB News
In April 2021, Liam Halligan became part of the launch team at GB News, Britain’s first new television news channel in decades. He served as Economics and Business Editor and hosted his own daily programme, On The Money, where he discussed markets, economic policy and political affairs.
Why He Left GB News
Despite his central role, Halligan left GB News in May 2024 after three years. Reports suggested he had become disillusioned after the cancellation of On The Money, a show he had invested considerable energy into developing. While he continued appearing across the channel, the decision to axe his dedicated programme was seen as a major factor in his departure. Halligan later confirmed on social media that it was his final day at the network, signalling a voluntary but principled exit.
Books and Publications
Halligan has authored and co-authored several significant books, including:
-
Home Truths (2019) – An analysis of the UK’s chronic housing shortage.
-
Clean Brexit (2017, with Gerard Lyons) – A case for the UK’s departure from the European Union.
His books reflect his willingness to take strong positions on major economic and political debates.
Family and Personal Life
Liam Halligan has three children. His former partner is journalist and author Lucy Ward, with whom he shares two daughters and a son. While he tends to keep his personal life private, he has spoken of balancing family responsibilities with his demanding career.
Away from journalism, Halligan enjoys traditional Irish music, singing, sailing and rowing. His Irish heritage remains an important part of his identity.
Awards and Recognition
Halligan has received multiple honours for his journalism and broadcasting, including:
-
British Press Award for Business and Finance Columnist of the Year (2007).
-
Wincott Business Broadcast of the Year (2018) for his Dispatches film on Carillion.
-
Several awards for his work on economic documentaries for Channel 4 and ITN.
These awards reflect both the quality and influence of his work in shaping public debate.
Conclusion
Liam Halligan stands out as a journalist who bridges the worlds of economics, finance and media. At 56, he continues to contribute thought-provoking analysis through The Telegraph, his podcast, and other platforms. His decision to leave GB News highlighted his commitment to editorial independence and high-quality journalism.
With his rare combination of academic rigour, financial expertise and broadcasting talent, Liam Halligan remains one of the UK’s most authoritative and influential economic commentators.
