MBS prof defends Sir Howard Davies in Libya row

AN academic at Manchester Business School, who taught in Libya, has spoken out in defence of Sir Howard Davies, the director of the London School of Economics (LSE) who has resigned over the university’s links to Colonel Gaddafi.

Manchester-born Sir Howard stepped down saying the LSE’s reputation had suffered after taking £300,000 for research from a foundation run by Gaddafi’s son Saif. He also said he regretted visiting the country to advise on economic reforms.

But Colin Talbot, a professor at Manchester Business School, pictured below, who taught on an LSE organised course in Libya, said Sir Howard had been the victom of double standards.

He told the BBC: “We have some British arms companies who have been selling arms to the Libyan regime. We’ve had BP there, drilling for oil. Nobody has been calling for the chief executive of BP to stand down as a result of that, whereas the LSE, which has been involved in some fairly minor education and research activities, is going through this trauma.”

Last year staff from Manchester Metropolitan University and Liverpool John Moores joined a delegation from five institutions promoting their courses in Libya.

Sir Howard grew up in Crumpsall, north Manchester and attended Manchester Grammar School. In the mid 1990s he spent two years as deputy governor of the Bank of England before leading the Financial Services Authority from 1997 to 2003. He left to join the LSE.