The IEA is supremely well-connected in Westminster. Its director general is a trade advisor to Liz Truss. It doesn't declare its donors.
Now an IEA advisor says it's 'hiding' behind charity laws to act as a lobbying outfit.
New @openDemocracy exclusive
opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-…
Now an IEA advisor says it's 'hiding' behind charity laws to act as a lobbying outfit.
New @openDemocracy exclusive
opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-…
https://twitter.com/openDemocracy/status/1321405875983126528
Anthony J Evans says the IEA prioritises “trolling” critics on social media while 'hiding' behind its charitable status to lobby.
Evans is listed as a member of the IEA’s shadow monetary policy committee – he says he stopped participating but “no one appeared to even notice”
Evans is listed as a member of the IEA’s shadow monetary policy committee – he says he stopped participating but “no one appeared to even notice”
“There's been a strategic choice to move away from being a serious, well respected representation of the best free market thinkers, towards being a provocative attention seeker," Evans says of IEA.
That's same IEA with ear of government and access to ministers.
That's same IEA with ear of government and access to ministers.
In 2018, IEA's Mark Littlewood boasted to a undercover @UE reporter that he was in 'the Brexit influencing game', offering to facilitate meetings with ministers for anonymous donors.
Last month, Littlewood was appointed as a 'strategic expert' to int'l trade minister Liz Truss
Last month, Littlewood was appointed as a 'strategic expert' to int'l trade minister Liz Truss
IEA's also been heavily critical of lockdown - its 'lifestyle economics editor' said “The only people who want another lockdown are communists and incels”. In May, IEA called for the end of furlough.
But privately the think tank used the furlough scheme during pandemic...
But privately the think tank used the furlough scheme during pandemic...
IEA's media access really is remarkable.
Accounts says it had 3,600 media 'hits' in UK last year. That's ONE HUNDRED media hits a day.
As former Tory minister Guto Bebb says in my book, "if you are willing to put £250k in a think tank, you can get a lot of bang for your buck"
Accounts says it had 3,600 media 'hits' in UK last year. That's ONE HUNDRED media hits a day.
As former Tory minister Guto Bebb says in my book, "if you are willing to put £250k in a think tank, you can get a lot of bang for your buck"
“The IEA's reputation now is primarily for social media impact and mischief” - says Anthony J Evans who published a book with the IEA in 2018.
(Of course, the IEA also hired Darren Grimes to run social media operation after the Brexit vote...)
(Of course, the IEA also hired Darren Grimes to run social media operation after the Brexit vote...)
IEA has access to government, too. Three meetings with Liz Truss were wiped from public records as they were 'personal' - although they've been reinstated Truss's department refuses to release more info.
In 2019, Littlewood wrote to Boris Johnson thanking for previous meeting
In 2019, Littlewood wrote to Boris Johnson thanking for previous meeting
The previous day, Littlewood wrote to Andrea Leadsom saying he “would be happy to arrange a meeting with one of our experts” for the newly appointed energy secretary.
Leadsom later responded saying she “looked forward to working with the IEA"
Leadsom later responded saying she “looked forward to working with the IEA"
All of these documents took @JennaCorderoy months to prise out of government. The IEA still refuses to say who funds it.
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Please do consider supporting @openDemocracy to keep this work going. Thanks support.opendemocracy.net/project/home?s…
I'm obviously useless at maths now. Should be ten hits a day. Which is still a huge amount, but a lot less than 100
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