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Following the money

This paper focuses on think tank transparency within the UK. It includes rankings of every think tank within the UK, some of the major issues with the lack of transparency in the current system, and proposes solutions which increase transparency.

At the top of the paper is a pink strip with the words "Centre Think Tank ISSN 2634-4696". Below this is a paper cover in grey on a light grey background. Under this is the words "Following the money. Who funds think tanks and how we can increase transparency". Under this is an image of a pink piggy bank with a golden pound coin falling into it. Beside the piggy bank is a man in pink trousers and purple top on a bean bag. He is holding a purple laptop and next to him is a pile of pound coins. Besides this is a phone with a series of graphs displayed on the screen. Under this are the words "Research paper. By Torrin Wilkins, November 6th 2023". Below this is a white strip with the Centre logo and the words "Commissioned by Garvin Brown".

Following the money: Who funds think tanks and how we can increase transparency.

This paper focuses on think tank transparency within the UK. It includes rankings of every think tank within the UK, some of the major issues with the lack of transparency in the current system, and proposes solutions which increase transparency.
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A paper cover in white on a light grey background. This has the title "Following the money, condensed version" with the words at the bottom "Commissioned by Garvin Brown".

Following the money - one page summary

One page summary version of our paper "Following the money".
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Quick summary

  • The paper analyses over one hundred think tanks and similar organizations. In total, we found that 22% of think tanks did not display a total income, and only 32% of think tanks revealed all funders over £7,500. We also saw that right-wing organisations were less transparent than left-wing organisations.
  • Our polling partners Millbank commissioned Deltapoll to ask 1,036 adults from Great Britain between the 19th to the 20th of October 2023 about think tank transparency. The overall result was clear; the public do not view think tanks as transparent. Overall, 59% of respondents thought that think tanks were not transparent. Only 19% of respondents thought that they were transparent, whilst 22% answered “Don’t know”. It was a view shared by every subgroup in the poll regardless of region, age, political leaning, employment status, sex, voting intention, social class, how they voted in the referendum and whether they were in a red wall seat.
  • The paper looks at donations from US sources to piece together a picture of donations to UK think tanks. Policy Exchange has had the most donations from the United States with a total of $3,877,309 since 2000, the IEA had $3,095,291 in donations and the Adam Smith Institute had $1,713,918.
  • We propose a new funding transparency body which would support organisations to increase transparency, specific ICO guidance on donation transparency and reforms to lobbying.

View the data

Following the data

See our interactive page with the data from our paper, interactive graphs, and polling data.

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Coverage

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Authors

Torrin Wilkins

Director and Founder

Torrin is the Founder and Director of the Centre. His experience includes authoring over a dozen papers and over one hundred policies. His policies have been backed by an All-Party Parliamentary Group of over 260 MPs and included in various party manifestos. He regularly appears in a wide range of print and broadcast media and previously had a weekly column for a national publication. He also has a degree in Political Studies from Aberystwyth University.

Foreword

Peter Geoghegan

Investigative journalist and author

Peter is an investigative journalist and author of "Democracy for Sale: Dark Money and Dirty Politics”. He works for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and writes the acclaimed 'Democracy for Sale' Substack.

Reaserchers and editors

Jasneet Samrai

Deputy Director (External)

Jasneet works at the Royal College of Physicians and has previously held roles at Breast Cancer Now and Oxfam. They also worked as a campaign organiser, helping to elect three MEPs. Jasneet currently serves as Head of Pastoral Care.

Pushkin Defyer

Pushkin was our Head of Membership Development. He was previously on the executive of the Young Liberals and is now a member of the Labour Party. He has worked with candidates from multiple parties during election campaigns.

Cllr Will Barber–Taylor

Will was our Deputy Director and now serves as a Councillor. He hosts the Debated Podcast and the Not A Day For Soundbites Podcast. Will was previously the Digital Campaigns & Media Officer for Generation Rent.

Commissioned by

Garvin Brown

Former Chairman of the Brown-Forman Corporation

Garvin Brown is a retired executive and former Chairman of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a drinks business run by his family. He is also a Venture Partner at Ascension, an early-stage VC fund, and a Senior Advisor at Ispahani Advisory, advising family businesses on corporate governance.

Polling partner

The word "Millbank" in black.

Millbank Think Tank

Millbank is a not-for-profit, cross-party, independent, UK think tank. They make sure better policy is being made, for those it's made for.
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The word "Millbank" in black.

Millbank Think Tank

Millbank is a not-for-profit, cross-party, independent, UK think tank. They make sure better policy is being made, for those it's made for.
Read More