Alan James Storkey (born 2 October 1943) is a British economist, sociologist and artist known for his writing, lectures, and work on transport and the arms trade. In 1968 he married Elaine Lively, a philosopher, sociologist and broadcaster. They have three sons, five grandsons and a granddaughter.

Education and academic posts

Alan Storkey was educated at the City of Norwich School, where he was school captain, and then at Christ's College, Cambridge where he studied economics. He did postgraduate work in sociology at the London School of Economics and a doctorate in economics (consumption theory) at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, studying under Bob Goudzwaard. His first academic post was in sociology at Stirling University from where he went on to direct the Shaftesbury Project. Having taught economics and politics at Worksop College, he became a member of the Research Scholars in Economics team at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, in the early 1980s. He was Director of Studies for 20 years at Oak Hill Theological College, London, until 2003, responsible for the academic programme with Middlesex University.

Publications

Storkey is an author of several books, including: He has contributed to many published symposia and columns in national newspapers and writes a regular column for the Church Times and the Church of England Newspaper. Marriage and Its Modern Crisis was written in response to a working party report from the Church of England. His book Jesus and Politics was featured at the Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh. In the 1990s Storkey was chair of the Movement for Christian Democracy and in 1997 unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary seat of Enfield Southgate. He came in fifth out of six candidates. Famously, Conservative former minister Michael Portillo, the constituency's incumbent Member of Parliament, lost his seat to Labour challenger Stephen Twigg, styled by the media as the 'Portillo moment'. He has given submissions to Government Enquiries into Transport on a motorway-based coach system and has been a member of a campaigning group on greener transport. His work on transport is referenced in George Monbiot's book Heat.

Art work

Storkey is also an artist and paints both landscapes and portraits. He exhibits regularly and five of his paintings, especially "Early Mist Over Granchester", are featured on the official Grantchester website.