FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Complaints to the Charity Commission against the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) have not been upheld.

The main complaint, from the activist organisation the Good Law Project (GLP) in March 2024, was first dismissed in twelve days, and again this week. The regulator has closed the case without finding any wrongdoing and issuing no regulatory sanctions. No point made by the GLP was upheld.

Linda Edwards, Chairman of Trustees at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“While I am disappointed it has taken nearly two years to dismiss this complaint, particularly given the former Charity Commission Chair’s public statement that he did not wish the regulator to be co-opted ‘into campaigns against think tanks’, I am delighted we can continue with our important work.

“The institutions of a free society and free markets are threatened across the free world. Vexatious campaigns like this attempt to destroy ideas, rather than debate them.”

Andy Mayer, Chief Operating Officer at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“This is the seventh time since 1984 that activists have misused the regulator to try to remove the IEA’s charitable status. They have failed on every occasion, but the activity is not harmless, wasting charity time and resources.

“Every point the GLP made, most of which were old complaints previously dismissed, were not upheld. This matter should have concluded quickly, and we reiterate our concern that the Regulator could do more to avoid being co-opted into political campaigns.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The Charity Commission dismissed all but four issues from examination in their regulatory compliance case as insufficiently serious to warrant investigation.


• In their closing letter (4 November 2025) they found no breach of charity law in the remaining four areas all of which concerned reputation management.


• In all the cases the IEA’s existing plans, that predated the complaint, were deemed to have either met the concern or would do so.