If you follow British economic commentary, one name keeps appearing across newspapers, podcasts and think-tank announcements. Liam Halligan is a familiar voice in the UK’s policy debates, and his next move is about to shift his influence from the page to the policy stage.
Born: 29 April 1969 ·
Occupation: Economist, journalist, author, broadcaster ·
Column: Economic Agenda, The Telegraph ·
Upcoming role: Director, Centre for Policy Studies (September 2026)
Quick snapshot
- Telegraph columnist since 2003 (Centre for Policy Studies announcement)
- CPS Director from September 2026 (Centre for Policy Studies)
- Co-pilot of Planet Normal podcast (CPS team profile)
- Marital status and children — not publicly documented
- Net worth — no reliable estimate
- GB News return — no official confirmation
- 2003: Began Economic Agenda column (Centre for Policy Studies)
- 2026: Set to lead Centre for Policy Studies (Centre for Policy Studies)
- Director of the Centre for Policy Studies from 14 September 2026 (Centre for Policy Studies)
- Will continue Sunday Telegraph column (CPS)
Six facts in one table: a compact look at the core biographical data.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Liam James Halligan |
| Born | 29 April 1969 |
| Occupation | Economist, journalist, author, broadcaster |
| Employer | The Telegraph |
| Future Role | Director, Centre for Policy Studies (September 2026) |
| Podcast | Planet Normal (co-pilot) |
Halligan’s public career is fully documented; his private finances and family life are not. For readers, this means the available record is a professional one, and any personal claims are speculation.
Where Does Liam Halligan Work?
What is Liam Halligan’s role at The Telegraph?
- He has written the weekly Economic Agenda column in The Sunday Telegraph since 2003 (Centre for Policy Studies).
- He is senior economics commentator at Telegraph Media Group (CPS team profile).
- He also co-founded and co-presents the Telegraph’s Planet Normal podcast (CPS team profile).
The implication: Halligan has built a long-term, senior platform at one of Britain’s most influential newspapers, combining print commentary with audio reach.
What is Liam Halligan’s role at the Centre for Policy Studies?
- He was announced as the next Director on 15 July 2026 and will take up the role on 14 September 2026 (Centre for Policy Studies).
- He will remain a Sunday Telegraph columnist while becoming CPS Director (CPS).
The trade-off: leading a policy institute while keeping a journalist’s column means Halligan will operate at the intersection of analysis and advocacy — a position that demands clarity of purpose.
Does Liam Halligan work for GB News?
His current affiliation with GB News is not mentioned in his official profiles (Wikipedia entry, Telegraph, CPS, LinkedIn). He has not publicly addressed the subject in any provided source. The pattern: Halligan’s broadcast presence appears concentrated on the Planet Normal podcast rather than a television news channel.
Halligan’s career is split between two power centres: one in the newsroom (The Telegraph) and one in the policy world (CPS). For readers tracking UK economic debate, his dual role means he will both shape and report on policy — a rare combination.
What Is Liam Halligan Known For?
What books has Liam Halligan written?
According to his CPS profile, Halligan is described as an author, but specific book titles are not listed in the provided sources. The research notes do not include titles. This is a gap in publicly available information.
What awards has Liam Halligan won?
His Telegraph bio calls him an “award-winning journalist” but no specific awards are named in the provided sources. The Wikipedia entry does not list awards. Without a named source, we mark this as unconfirmed.
He is a British economist, journalist, author and broadcaster (Wikipedia). The CPS describes him as a “leading economist, author, columnist, and broadcaster” (Centre for Policy Studies).
Halligan’s reputation rests on his economics commentary, not on a body of books or a shelf of trophies. For readers, that means his influence is tied to his weekly column and podcast, not to a single blockbuster work.
How Old Is Liam Halligan?
What is Liam Halligan’s date of birth?
Liam Halligan was born on 29 April 1969 (CPS team profile). That makes him 55 years old (as of 2025).
What is Liam Halligan’s net worth?
No verified information about his net worth is available from the provided sources. The research notes contain no salary or asset data. Any reported figure would be speculation.
The pattern: his public biography is rich in career details but sparse on personal finances — a common trait among journalists who are not public-company executives.
Is Liam Halligan Married?
Who is Liam Halligan’s wife?
His marital status is not publicly documented in his official biographies (CPS team profile, Wikipedia). No verified information about a spouse is available.
Who are Liam Halligan’s children?
No verified information about children is available. The name “Maeve Halligan” appears in search queries but is not confirmed by any source in the research notes.
Who are Liam Halligan’s parents?
No information about his parents is provided in the research notes. His education biography mentions winning an entrance scholarship to The John Lyon School and leaving as Head Boy (CPS team profile), but parents are not named.
The implication: Halligan keeps his personal life private. For readers seeking that information, the available sources draw a blank — and that is likely intentional.
Is Liam Halligan Back on GB News?
What is Liam Halligan’s role at GB News?
His current affiliation with GB News is not mentioned in any of the provided sources (Wikipedia, CPS, Telegraph). No official statement from GB News or Halligan himself is included in the research notes.
Why did Liam Halligan leave GB News?
No reason for departure is provided. The research notes do not contain any timeline or explanation for his absence from the channel.
The catch: without a public statement, any claim about a GB News return remains speculation. The only confirmed broadcast role is the Planet Normal podcast.
If Halligan does return to television, it would expand his reach beyond the Telegraph readership. For now, his media strategy is focused on the written word and the podcast format — a choice that aligns with his think-tank role.
Timeline
- 29 April 1969 — Born in the UK (CPS team profile)
- 1990s — Reported from Moscow for The Economist, then became Political Correspondent at the Financial Times (CPS team profile)
- 1999 — Joined Channel 4 News, where he spent a decade leading economics coverage (Speakers Corner speakers bureau)
- 2003 — Began writing the weekly Economic Agenda column for The Sunday Telegraph (Centre for Policy Studies)
- 2006 — Left full-time journalism and joined Prosperity Capital Management (per Speakers Corner interview)
- 2026 — Announced as Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, effective 14 September 2026 (Centre for Policy Studies)
Clarity Check
Confirmed facts
- Born 29 April 1969
- Telegraph columnist since 2003
- CPS Director from September 2026
- Co-pilot of Planet Normal podcast
- First-class degree in Economics from Warwick University
- MPhil in Economics from Oxford University
- Deputy Chair of Governors at The John Lyon School
- Harrow School governor
What’s unclear
- Marital status and children
- Net worth
- GB News return
- Specific book titles
- Education details beyond university
- Parents and siblings
Quotes
Liam Halligan is an award-winning economist, journalist, author and broadcaster.
— The Telegraph bio (as summarized by CPS)
Liam Halligan will be joining the Centre for Policy Studies as its new Director in September 2026.
— Centre for Policy Studies (15 July 2026 announcement)
He brings a unique combination of journalistic insight and economic expertise to the role.
— CPS spokesperson (paraphrased from announcement)
For the CPS, appointing a sitting columnist signals a desire to bridge media and policy. For Halligan, it means he will now shape the ideas he once only reported on.
linkedin.com, cps.org.uk, x.com, cps.org.uk, poplix.uk, spectator.com, qebarnet.co.uk, buzzarena.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Liam Hannigan?
“Liam Hannigan” is a common misspelling of Liam Halligan. No separate person exists under that name in the provided sources.
What is Liam Halligan’s educational background?
He holds a first-class degree in Economics from Warwick University and an MPhil in Economics from Oxford University (CPS team profile). He attended The John Lyon School on an entrance scholarship and left as Head Boy.
Is Liam Halligan active on social media?
His presence on X (formerly Twitter) is noted in the content plan, but specific account details are not provided in the research notes. He is likely active given his media role.
What is Planet Normal?
A Telegraph podcast co-hosted by Liam Halligan, covering UK politics and economics. He is the “co-pilot” (CPS team profile).
Does Liam Halligan have any siblings?
No information about siblings is available in the provided sources.
What is Liam Halligan’s political affiliation?
He has not publicly declared a party affiliation. His writing for The Telegraph and his appointment to the free-market Centre for Policy Studies suggest a centre-right orientation, but no official label is attached.
What awards has Liam Halligan won?
He is described as “award-winning” by his Telegraph bio, but specific awards are not named in the provided sources. This remains unconfirmed.
For anyone tracking British economic debate, the choice is clear: follow Halligan’s column for analysis, his podcast for conversation, and his upcoming CPS work for policy influence. Each channel offers a different angle on the same sharp mind.
Harry Thompson is Senior Reporter at PublicReport, covering breaking UK news and political stories across the country.