UK central banker apologises for 'menopausal' remark

Ben Broadbent's description of the British economy sparked a backlash of criticism

Deputy Governor of the Bank of England Ben Broadbent was criticised for his choice of words in describing the state of the British economy. (REUTERS/Neil Hall)

One of Britain's top central bankers apologised on Wednesday for saying the British economy is entering a "menopausal" moment, a sexist remark that prompted widespread criticism.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Ben Broadbent, the Bank of England's deputy governor for monetary policy, used the "menopausal" metaphor to describe economies that were "past their peak and no longer so potent".

The comment sparked a backlash of criticism.

"This poor choice of words is very disappointing and distracts from the real issue at hand," said Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general at the Confederation of British Industry, the leading business lobby group.

And Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said this "kind of language is totally inappropriate. There's no need to resort to lazy, sexist comments to describe problems in the economy".

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Britain is in a moment of low growth that many attribute to uncertainty surrounding the upcoming exit from the European Union and to a long period of weak productivity growth.

Mr Broadbent later apologised in a statement issued in response to the interview, which was flashed across the front page of the newspaper.

"I'm sorry for my poor choice of language in an interview with The Telegraph yesterday and regret the offence caused," he said.

Mr Broadbent said he'd been trying to explain the word "climacteric" — a term, he said, that economic historians use to describe a period of low productivity growth during the nineteenth century.

"Economic productivity is something which affects every one of us, of all ages and genders," he said in his statement.

Though he was swift in apologising, his remark could hurt his chances in succeeding Mark Carney as the central bank's governor. Mr Carney has said he will stand down in June 2019, and many were tipping Mr Broadbent, a former Goldman Sachs economist, to succeed. British Prime Minister Theresa May will be the one making the decision.

Mr Carney has conceded that gender inequality has been a problem at the Bank of England. In its first gender pay gap report, issued last year, the bank found that male employees are paid almost 25 per cent more than women.

The bank has introduced diversity targets, including an aim to have 35 per cent female representation in senior roles by 2020, up from 30 per cent in 2017.

"We must also support equality through fair pay," Mr Carney said. "We're confident that men and women are paid equally for doing the same job at the Bank — however, the greater proportion of men than women in senior roles creates a gender pay gap."