John Mills is an economist, author and political campaigner. He is also the Founder, Chairman and majority shareholder of JML, the global consumer goods company which exports to over 85 countries around the world.
A committed and well-respected advocate for growth and enterprise, John Mills is an accomplished writer and has published over 12 books over the last 40 years.
Having appeared on all major UK broadcasters including Radio 4 The Today Programme and BBC’s Question Time, John remains a go-to commentator and analyst on issues relating to the UK economy, exchange rate policy and Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union.
John started his career selling household goods door-to-door as a student in 1959. After two years' of national service in the Royal Navy, a six-month spell at Unilever and a series of other business ventures, John founded John Mills Limited (JML) from his basement in Camden in 1986.
Under his stewardship, JML has become a global multi-channel retailer selling over 15 million products a year. Today, JML is one of Britain’s most successful exporting businesses employing just under 250 people. The success of the company has helped put a JML product in more than 7 out of 10 homes in the UK.
John has been a Labour Party member, supporter and donor for over 50 years. He served as a Labour Councillor on Camden Borough Council almost continuously from 1971 to 2006. John has also been a parliamentary candidate twice – once in 1974 and again for the European Parliamentary elections in 1979. Having been the national agent for the ‘No’ campaign during the 1975 ECC referendum, John is a lifelong Eurosceptic and chaired Labour’s ‘leave’ campaign during the 2016 EU referendum.
John Mills Limited, known as JML, is a UK-based global multi-channel retailer that sells consumer products through TV shopping channels, in-store video, and its e-commerce platform. Headquartered in London, JML distributes more than 15 million products every year in more than 70 countries and employs over 250 people.
The John Mills Institute for Prosperity is a cross-party campaign and research initiative with a mission to increase prosperity, growth and equality in the UK.
The Economic Research Council is one of Britain’s oldest economics-based think tank and is dedicated to extending the reach of economic education, debate and leadership.
Vote Leave was the official campaign organisation that supported Britain's withdrawal from the European Union in the UK referendum on EU membership.
Business for Britain
Co-Chairman
2013 - 2016
London, UK
Business for Britain was a pro-business, eurosceptic campaign group based in London.
Philanthropy
The John Mills Charitable Trust
Founder
2018 - Present
The John Mills Charitable Trust was established to support other charitable and not-for-profit organisations active in economic and political research as well as other worthy causes, including leading mental health charity, SANE.
The past tells us that reviving manufacturing is the best way to increase productivity, growth and living standards
London, UK
Written by the Founder, John Mills discusses why the past tells us that reviving manufacturing is the best way to increase productivity, growth and living standards.
Manufacture back to prosperity after coronavirus economic shock, says report
May 2020
London, UK
The Mirror discusses a report from the John Mills Institute for Prosperity that concludes we should manufacture back to prosperity following the economic shock of coronavirus.
Raising Productivity explores and discusses issues including inequality, low investment and population growth, arguing that poor productivity in the UK is due to mistakes made in policies. If reversed, sustainable economic growth of up to 4% per annum could be achieved in the UK.
Written by John Mills, Britain's Achilles Heel: Our Uncompetitive Pound explores Britain's economic history, how the current policy framework is failing and how a new and radical approach is needed.
Brexit Economics: How to make the UK economy the powerhouse of Europe whatever happens with the Brexit negotiations surveys the challenges the UK faces and the course of action that is needed to rectify the UK's poor performance, trade deficits, low investment and deindustrialisation.
In Why Trump Won: What happens when globalisation benefits only the rich, John comments on the rise of populism and how it is associated with ineffective economic policies.
Written by John Mills, The Exchange Rate discusses various issues that have arisen due to the overvaluation of the pound, including deindustrialisation and trade deficits. The Exchange Rate argues that these issues can be addressed with a more active policy of exchange rate management.
The Real Sterling Crisis challenges the government, arguing a new economic framework should be introduced with an exchange rate policy designed to ensure the pound continues to trade competitively in the future.
Following the UK's decision to leave the European Union, John Mills wrote Healing The Wounds. It explores and explains the ways in which the relationship between the EU and UK could be restored.
Written by John Mills, There Is An Alternative is an economic roadmap that presents ideas that within five years could transform the UK's long term prospects.
You Have Been Warned!
Author
Apr 2015
London, UK
In a publication written by John Mills, You Have Been Warned! explores and argues the assumption that living standards are fundamentally on an upward trajectory.
An Exchange Rate Target: Why we need one was written by John Mills. He surveys why the UK's trade deficit in goods and the overall current-account deficit has remained the same for decades, arguing that in order for this to change the value of the pound needs to fall.
A Price That Matters
Author
Apr 2012
London, UK
Written by John Mills, A Price That Matters explores Britain's exchange rate policy, arguing that the economy is in the position it is today due to the chosen and deeply flawed economic strategies.
Written by John Mills, Managing the World Economy analyses and explains the macroeconomic policy and argues that in the future with better use of human talent, faster economic growth and fortunes can be achieved and transformed.
America's Soluble Problems is written by John Mills, who analyses the problems that appear to be on the rise in the US. The book argues that changes in macro-economic policies could transform the prospects for both the economy and citizens.
Tackling Britain's False Economy was written by John Mills. In the book, John examines 200 years of the British economy with the conclusion that inappropriate monetary and exchange rate policies are the reasons behind the economy's poor performance.
Written by John Mills, Brian Gould and Stewart Shaun, Monetarism or Prosperity? explores the monetarist cul-de-sac, international monetarism, the exchange rate and measuring international competitiveness.
The Royal Navy is is made up of five services: the Surface Fleet, the Fleet Air Arm, the Submarine Service, the Royal Marines and the Royal Fleet Auxillary.
