After attending Bryanston School, Dorset (1962–67),[1][2] Lipsey won an Exhibition in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at Magdalen College, Oxford in 1968 and graduated with a First Class degree, winning the University Gibbs Prize in Politics in 1969.

From 1982 to 1983 he was Chairman of the Fabian Society and from 1970 to 1972 Secretary of the Streatham Labour Party.

David Lipsey was awarded a Special Orwell Prize in 1997 for his work as ‘Bagehot’ in The Economist.

[3] Lipsey has held numerous senior posts in public life.

As well as his economic and social interests, he chairs the All Party Parliamentary group on Classical Music (from 2011), is a patron of the Glasbury Arts Festival, a trustee of the Cambrian Orchestra Trust and chairman of the Sidney Nolan Trust (from 2011), as well as being a trustee of other arts organisations.