IEA responds to The Guardian’s coverage
29 July 2018
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IEA responds to The Guardian's story
Responding to the story in The Guardian concerning the Institute of Economic Affairs, Director General Mark Littlewood said:
“The IEA is an educational charity which seeks to improve the understanding of free markets across policy-makers, politicians and the wider public. We first became aware of the Guardian-Greenpeace undercover operation twelve days ago, were given 48 hours to respond, and published a full account here.
“Our research and ideas precede donations and we make no apology for seeking to raise funds from individuals, foundations and corporations to support our independent research efforts. Donors are unable to influence the results and conclusions of our research, which are controlled entirely by our research team, but we greatly welcome their funding, without which we would be unable operate.
“We also make no apologies for seeking to inform and educate politicians at the highest levels of government. Indeed, this is a particularly vital audience given the huge issues thrown up by the Brexit process and, in particular, the fact that trade expertise is now so vital in the UK, given we have not operated an independent trade policy since joining the European Union.
“It should be noted that the comments referred to in this account are selective and taken out of context of a wider conversation. We asked the Guardian and Greenpeace for a full transcript and audio copy of the meeting they secretly filmed – as those who attended from the IEA were overseas at the time we received the allegations – but both declined, and so last week we submitted a request for the information under data protection laws.”
Notes to editors:
Mark Littlewood, Director General at the Institute of Economic Affairs, will be available for interviews in London up to 9am on Monday 30th July, and by arrangement in person or via telephone thereafter.
To arrange an interview please contact Nerissa Chesterfield, Communications Officer: nchesterfield@iea.org.uk or 07791 390 268
For the IEA’s full response to this article please click here. For Mark Littlewood’s blog in response to this article please click here.
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems and seeks to provide analysis in order to improve the public understanding of economics.
The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
“The IEA is an educational charity which seeks to improve the understanding of free markets across policy-makers, politicians and the wider public. We first became aware of the Guardian-Greenpeace undercover operation twelve days ago, were given 48 hours to respond, and published a full account here.
“Our research and ideas precede donations and we make no apology for seeking to raise funds from individuals, foundations and corporations to support our independent research efforts. Donors are unable to influence the results and conclusions of our research, which are controlled entirely by our research team, but we greatly welcome their funding, without which we would be unable operate.
“We also make no apologies for seeking to inform and educate politicians at the highest levels of government. Indeed, this is a particularly vital audience given the huge issues thrown up by the Brexit process and, in particular, the fact that trade expertise is now so vital in the UK, given we have not operated an independent trade policy since joining the European Union.
“It should be noted that the comments referred to in this account are selective and taken out of context of a wider conversation. We asked the Guardian and Greenpeace for a full transcript and audio copy of the meeting they secretly filmed – as those who attended from the IEA were overseas at the time we received the allegations – but both declined, and so last week we submitted a request for the information under data protection laws.”
Notes to editors:
Mark Littlewood, Director General at the Institute of Economic Affairs, will be available for interviews in London up to 9am on Monday 30th July, and by arrangement in person or via telephone thereafter.
To arrange an interview please contact Nerissa Chesterfield, Communications Officer: nchesterfield@iea.org.uk or 07791 390 268
For the IEA’s full response to this article please click here. For Mark Littlewood’s blog in response to this article please click here.
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems and seeks to provide analysis in order to improve the public understanding of economics.
The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
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