Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Charities acting as Think-tanks: Political Donations

Thursday 9 March 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chris Stephens inquired whether the committee had recent discussions with the Electoral Commission on the transparency of political donations to charities acting as think-tanks.
  • The Speaker's Committee has not held recent discussions on the matters raised by Chris Stephens.
  • The Electoral Commission does not monitor the political activity of think tanks unless they engage in regulated campaigning ahead of an election or referendum.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Stephens SNP
Democracy & Elections Standards & Ethics
Context

The question arises from concerns about the transparency, accountability, and effective regulation of political donations to charities that act as think-tanks. The Electoral Commission is involved in regulating spending during elections but not generally on political activity.

Question

Whether the committee has had recent discussions with the Electoral Commission on the transparency, accountability and effective regulation of political donations to charities that act as think-tanks.

Answer from Cat Smith

The Speaker's Committee has not held recent discussions on the matters raised. The Electoral Commission regulates the spending of organisations campaigning during the regulated period ahead of an election or referendum. It also regulates donations to political parties, candidates and campaigners. Unless a think tank is engaged in regulated campaign activity or itself makes donations, it will fall outside of the commission's remit. The commission does not have a role in regulating spending on political activity more generally.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask regarding recent discussions with the Electoral Commission was not directly addressed.

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Q2 Chris Stephens SNP
Democracy & Elections Standards & Ethics
Context

According to an audit by openDemocracy and Who Funds You?, the least transparently funded think tanks have raised more than £14 million in the past two years from mystery donors, with some refusing to declare all their funders. Additionally, there are estimates that $6 million is coming in from America.

Question

According to an audit by openDemocracy and Who Funds You?, the least transparently funded think tanks have raised more than £14 million in the past two years from mystery donors, with the likes of the Institute of Economic Affairs, the Adam Smith Institute and the TaxPayers Alliance refusing to declare all their funders. That is followed with estimates that $6 million is coming in from America. Is the Electoral Commission not concerned about the public influence that those right-wing think tanks have on our politics?

Answer from Cat Smith

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the commission does not have a role in monitoring the political activity of think tanks unless they are engaged in regulated campaigning ahead of an election or a referendum. The charitable activities of think tanks are regulated by the charity regulator for the relevant part of the UK, but the Electoral Commission would be happy to facilitate a meeting with the hon. Gentleman if he wishes to discuss this matter further with the commission.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about the Electoral Commission's concern regarding public influence was not directly addressed.

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