Peter Jay (diplomat)

After leaving politics, Jay became the founding chairman of the breakfast television station TV-am and was Chief of Staff to Robert Maxwell.

He co-authored, with his friend John Birt, a series of articles for The Times in 1972, in which they criticised standard television journalism and developed what came to be called their "mission to explain".

[7] In 1977, during his father-in-law James Callaghan's term as Prime Minister, Jay was recommended for the post of Ambassador to the United States by his friend David Owen, the Foreign Secretary.

"[8][6] He left Maxwell's employment and returned to broadcast journalism after John Birt appointed him the position of Economics Editor of the BBC.

[8][1][6] He wrote the accompanying book, The Road to Riches or the Wealth of Man (2000), and also co-wrote, with Michael Stewart, the speculative historical novel Apocalypse 2000: Economic Breakdown and the Suicide of Democracy (1987).

I tell you in all candour that that option no longer exists", a rejection of the previously dominant Keynesian logic and a reflection of the ascendency of monetarism.

Jay initially refused to accept paternity, but a DNA test proved the point and he paid for the child's maintenance.