Iain Martin Keynote Speaker

Author, "Crash Bang Wallop: the inside story of London's Big Bang and a financial revolution that changed the world"(2016)
Former Editor of the Scotsman (2001-04)
Political Columnist for The Times (2009-2011)

Iain Martin's Biography

Iain Martin is UK based political commentator. A former editor of The Scotsman, his 2016 book, Crash Bang Wallop: the inside story of London’s Big Bang and a financial revolution that changed the world, as well as his previous book on the rise and fall of the Royal Bank of Scotland gives him an unrivalled perspective on the consequences of the financial crisis.

Iain was a weekly political columnist for The Times (2016-2026) and is the editor and founder of Reaction, an independent website dedicated to commentary and analysis on politics, economics and culture.

Iain worked as Editor of The Scotsman (2001-04), editor of Scotland on Sunday (2004-06), deputy editor and columnist for The Sunday Telegraph and Head of Comment for the Daily Telegraph. From 2009-2011 he was the deputy editor of the European edition and author of a blog on UK politics at the Wall Street Journal.

His book on the financial crisis – “Making it Happen: Fred Goodwin, RBS and the Men Who Blew up the British Economy” (Simon & Schuster, 2013) – details the turmoil at the bank and the lessons for other multinational firms, regulators and governments. It won the debut book of the year prize at the Political Book Awards 2014. And it was short-listed for the Financial Times/Goldman Sachs business book of the year 2013.

He brings decades of front-line experience as an editor and political columnist to deliver authoritative insight on UK politics, economic policy and institutional power.
He translates the lessons of the financial crisis, explored in Making it Happen and Crash Bang Wallop, into clear analysis on risk, regulation and the consequences of strategic misjudgement.
He draws on senior roles at The Scotsman, The Sunday Telegraph, The Wall Street Journal and The Times to help leaders understand how politics, markets and media interact.
He equips boards and executives with a sharper perspective on government decision making, financial reform and the long tail of systemic shocks.
His candid, incisive commentary enables audiences to cut through noise and interpret fast-moving political and economic developments with confidence.

Videos of Iain Martin

Patricia Cohen and Iain Martin in Conversation with Alan Lawson 'Language and Propaganda'

In conversation with Roger Scruton

Interview with Iain Martin

Books by Iain Martin

Making It Happen

Crash Bang Wallop

Comments & Testimonials

I was really happy with the way he chaired the event. The questions were good, he allowed everyone the chance to speak and brought in members of the audience appropriately. we’d definitely use him again for future events.

Head of Corporate Affairs Pension Company