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The Department is saddened by the passing of Lord Skidelsky, Emeritus Professor of Political Economy, who died on 15 April 2026 at the age of 86. Lord Skidelsky joined the Department in 1990 and kept in close touch even after his retirement. He leaves an enduring legacy as one of the most influential economic historians of his generation.

Robert Skidelsky joined the University of 糖心TV in 1978 as Professor of International Studies, and in 1990 he was appointed Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Economics where he worked until his retirement in 2006 after 28 years of teaching and research at 糖心TV. He was made a member of the House of Lords in 1991 and elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1994.

He remained Emeritus Professor of Political Economy and kept in touch with the Department with his most recent engagement in March 2023 when he took part in a panel discussion on the role of sanctions in responding to the Russian鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Best known for his monumental three-volume biography of John Maynard Keynes, he reshaped modern understanding of Keynesian thought and its relevance to contemporary economic policy. His academic papers, lectures, and public commentary – many of which are collected on his – reflect a lifelong commitment to examining the moral and philosophical foundations of economics, the role of the state and the dynamics of capitalism.

His major publications include:

• His three-volume biography of John Maynard Keynes (1983, 1992, 2000) won five prizes and his book on the financial crisis – "Keynes: The Return of the Master" was published in 2010.
• In 2012 he published "How much is Enough? The Love of Money and the Case for the Good Life", co-authored with his son Edward.
• He also authored "Britain in the 20th Century: A Success?" in 2014 and edited "The Essential Keynes" in 2015.
• He co-edited "Who Runs the Economy" in 2016 and "Austerity Vs Stimulus" in 2017.
• "Money and Government" was published in 2018 and "What's Wrong with Economics? A Primer for the Perplexed" in 2020.
• His last book "Mindless: The Human Condition in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" was published in 2024.

Across decades of scholarship, he combined historical depth with clarity of argument, engaging both academic and public audiences. His work consistently challenged orthodoxies, urging economists to consider the ethical dimensions of economic life and the responsibilities of policymakers.

Through his writing, teaching, and contributions to public debate, Lord Skidelsky profoundly influenced the study of political economy and inspired generations of students and researchers.

Marcus Miller, Emeritus Professor who knew Robert Skidelsky as a colleague and a friend, shared the following tribute:

鈥淧rofessor Robert Skidelsky, Second Baron of Tilton Manor, was a man of many parts. Let me, as friend and fellow academic, recount some of his ways.

One can, for example, imagine him joining some gathering of the Bloomsbury set as they seek the proper definition of the good life; then promptly penning his own reflections on the subject– with ethical guidance perhaps from his philosopher son Edward.

And I can picture him now, standing before rows of keen young students on campus, describing with passion how high-spirited Maynard Keynes took on the 鈥楾reasury view鈥� of the early 1930s; and went beyond that to create, single-handedly, the modern field of 鈥榤acroeconomics鈥�! (I was listening carefully too, as it was down to me to mark the scripts for the course!)

Now see how, artist鈥檚 brush in hand, he sketches with deft strokes the key features of famous economists – John Maynard Keynes, to be sure; but his critics too. For this biographer is not afraid to reveal both the foibles of the famous, and the 鈥榖ig lies鈥� of Keynes鈥檚 arch-rivals - Mrs Thatcher鈥檚 guru Milton Friedman in particular.

Latterly, he could oft be heard debating in the House of Lords. Like some feisty angel in Milton鈥檚 Paradise Lost, he would challenge the idea of lurching into open war, advocating deft diplomacy instead.

How to capture the quick-silver talents of such a profound scholar and lively man of affairs? To quote the words of a mutual friend, 鈥渉e was lucid, mischievous and phenomenally productive to the end鈥�. So he has left us with a treasure-trove of his fascinating publications: but the irrepressible Robert Skidelsky himself will be sorely missed.鈥�

Related articles:

• , The Guardian, 20 April 2026
• 鈥溾��, The Times, 20 April 2026 (behind a paywall)
• 鈥溾��, The Telegraph, 17 April 2026 (behind a paywall)