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55 Tufton Street

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Background

55 Tufton Street, located in Westminster, London, is at the centre of a small but influential network of free market, pro-Brexit thinktanks and lobby groups, including the UK‘s principal climate science denial group, the Global Warming Policy Foundation. Information on the members of the Tufton Street network can be found below.1“Mapped: The Cosy Climate-Euro Sceptic Bubble Pushing for Brexit and Less Climate Action,” DeSmog UK, June 13, 2016. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/S4h4b

55 Tufton Street is owned by Specmat Limited, which is itself owned by businessman Richard Smith, whose company HR Smith Group supplies electronic systems to the aviation industry.2Tom Bawden. “The address where Eurosceptics and climate change sceptics rub shoulders,” The Independent, February 10, 2016. Archived June 9, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/PSL5U Smith is also a former trustee of the pro-Brexit Politics and Economics Research Trust founded by former Vote Leave and TaxPayers’ Alliance CEO Matthew Elliott.3Adam Ramsay, Peter Geoghegan. “Revealed: how the UK’s powerful right-wing think tanks and Conservative MPs work together,” openDemocracy, July 31, 2018. Archived October 23, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/z0CJU

An openDemocracy investigation in 2018 found that many of the groups met monthly to discuss “strategy and tactics”,4Adam Ramsay, Peter Geoghegan. “Revealed: how the UK’s powerful right-wing think tanks and Conservative MPs work together,” openDemocracy, July 31, 2018. Archived October 23, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/z0CJU while Brexit campaign whistleblower Shahmir Sanni accused nine of the organisations of running a coordinated campaign for a “hard Brexit” by agreeing on a “single set of right-wing talking points.”5Chloe Farand. “Mapped: Whistleblower Accuses Nine Organisations of Colluding over Hard Brexit,” DeSmog, July 23, 2018.

Former staff members of Tufton Street groups have been hired as special advisers in Downing Street6Sam Bright. “Tufton Street Linked Donors Have Given £630,000 to the Conservatives Since Sunak Became Prime Minister,” DeSmog, April 21, 2023. and across Whitehall during the Conservative Party’s time in office from 2010 onwards.7Sam Bright. “The Tentacles of Tufton Street: Think Tank Alumni Handed Top Government Roles,” Byline Times, October 4, 2022. Archived March 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/b7w4Y The influence of Tufton Street was reported to have reached its peak during Liz Truss’s time as prime minister, from September to October 2022.8Archie Bland. “Tuesday briefing: The Truss thinkers that tanked the Tories,” The Guardian, October 4, 2022. Archived October 19, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/T7H8R 

An investigation published by DeSmog and Democracy for Sale revealed that Conservative Party donors had given £6.8 million to Tufton Street think tanks since 2019, four of whom were also Conservative Party peers.9Peter Geoghegan, Lucas Amin and Sam Bright. “Tory Donors Have Pumped Almost £7 Million into Tufton Street Since 2019,” DeSmog, June 13, 2024. This includes a single donation of £49,000 to the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) made by Nigel Vinson, former Conservative peer and life vice president of the IEA. The largest recipient of donations was the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which Vinson gave £3.7 million in the form of an ‘investment’ in 2023.

Tufton Street groups are known for their lack of financial transparency, and all have at one point been given the lowest rating – ‘E’ – by openDemocracy’s “Who Funds You?” transparency index. As of January 2024, all have an ‘E’ rating, with the exception of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, Centre for Policy Studies and the Institute of Economic Affairs, which have been upgraded to the second-lowest rating, ‘D’.10”UK think tanks and campaigns rated for funding transparency,” openDemocracy. Archived January 3, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ez7r3

Stance on Climate Change

The building is home to several groups that either spread misinformation about climate science or lobby against government action to reduce emissions.11Tom Bawden. “The address where Eurosceptics and climate change sceptics rub shoulders,” The Independent, February 10, 2016. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/PSL5U

Key People

55 Tufton Street Residents

The Global Warming Policy Foundation

The Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), based in 55 Tufton Street, exists to combat what it describes as “extremely damaging and harmful policies” designed to address climate change and regularly publishes reports rejecting the scientific consensus on the issue.12“Ed Miliband clashes with Lord Lawson on global warming,” BBC News, December 6, 2009. Archived August 17, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/47R7w

The GWPF was founded in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate summit in 2009 by former Conservative Chancellor Lord Nigel Lawson (deceased).13“Mapped: The Cosy Climate-Euro Sceptic Bubble Pushing for Brexit and Less Climate Action,” DeSmog UK, June 13, 2016. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/S4h4b Several of the GWPF‘s members and funders are affiliated with other Tufton Street groups.14Cahal Milmo. “Multi-millionaire backers of climate change denial think-tank revealed,” The Independent, September 2, 2014. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/NFG6q Neil Record, one of the GWPF’s funders and the chair of Net Zero Watch15“Board Members,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/a31l8 – the GWPF’s campaigning arm – was the chair of the Institute of Economic Affairs until July 2023.16“Linda Edwards elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Institute of Economic Affairs,“ IEA, July 20, 2023. Archived January 3, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Og9av Sir Alan Rudge, an advisor to the GWPF, is a trustee of Civitas, 17“Academic Advisory Council,” Global Warming Policy Foundation. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/JNL70 while Lord Nigel Vinson, one of the GWPF’s funders, was formerly a trustee at Civitas.18Cahal Milmo. “Multi-millionaire backers of climate change denial think-tank revealed,” The Independent, September 2, 2014. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/NFG6q

Civitas

Civitas, based in 55 Tufton Street, is an educational charity and publisher specialising in health, education, welfare, and economics.19“About Us,” Civitas. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/LB8x8 The think tank has published reports arguing against policies to tackle climate change, including a 2013 report by current GWPF Energy Editor John Constable.20Tom Bawden. “Britain’s leading private university ‘becoming a mouthpiece for fossil-fuel industry’,” Independent, March 30, 2015. Archived October 23, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/mtpMj It claimed that a shift to renewable energy would mean “more people would be working for lower wages in the energy sector, energy costs would rise, the economy would stagnate, and there would be a significant decline in the standard of living.” 

Sir Alan Rudge, an advisor to the GWPF, is a Civitas trustee,21“Academic Advisory Council,” Global Warming Policy Foundation. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/JNL70 and Lord Nigel Vinson, a GWPF funder,22Cahal Milmo. “Multi-millionaire backers of climate change denial think-tank revealed,” The Independent, September 2, 2014. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/NFG6q is a former trustee.23“CIVITAS LIMITED: People,” Companies House. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/wQC7H The group has been criticised for its “opaque” operations.24Tom Bawden. “Britain’s leading private university ‘becoming a mouthpiece for fossil-fuel industry’,” Independent, March 30, 2015. Archived October 23, 2019. Archive URL:  http://archive.fo/mtpMj 25Mat Hope. “‘Opaque’ and ‘Deceptive’ Think Tanks Spend Millions Pushing Brexit and Climate Science Misinformation – Report,” DeSmog UK, February 8, 2017.

TaxPayers’ Alliance

The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA), based in 55 Tufton Street, is a free-market pressure group and think tank formed in 2004 by Matthew Elliott to campaign for a low tax society. It advocates the removal of various measures designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the Climate Change Levy.26Brian Wheeler. “The campaign group: Taxpayers’ Alliance,” BBC News, March 3, 2008. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/ojkik It has also advocated for fracking,27“The Committee on Climate Change has spoken: let us frack,” TaxPayers’ Alliance, July 8, 2016. Archived September 29, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/3wj1J and claimed that “the government’s closure of UK fracking sites has also severely hampered the possibility of a robust domestic energy supply”.28“Rishi’s energy cost strategy is proven to fail,” TaxPayers’ Alliance, June 8, 2022. Archived August 23, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/AK0Ai  

In 2016, the TPA, along with US climate science denying lobby groups the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) and the Heritage Foundation, held a free trade event at the Conservative Party Conference.29Victoria Seabrook. “Climate Science Denying US Neocon Groups Promote ‘Simple’ and ‘Freer’ Trade with UK at Tory Party Conference,” DeSmog UK, October 5, 2016. The TPA was, as of November 2015, a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition, a climate science denial umbrella group run by the CEI, but is no longer listed on its website.30“Contributors,” Cooler Heads Coalition. Archived November 27, 2015. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/k9dXa The TPA belongs to an international coalition of anti-tax, free-market campaign groups called the World Taxpayers Associations. Other members include the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance, Americans for Tax Reform, the Austrian Economics Center and the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation.31“About us,” World Taxpayers Associations. Archived May 20, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/kE28O

New Culture Forum

The New Culture Forum is a right-wing think tank that seeks to shape cultural debates it believes are dominated by the “liberal establishment”.32“About the NCF,” New Culture Forum. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/B3e5s According to a 2018 ConservativeHome article, Matthew Elliott serves as an advisor to the forum.33“Matthew Elliott,” ConservativeHome. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/LrcbH Senior Conservative Michael Gove has spoken at its events.34“Michael Gove at the New Culture Forum,” New Culture Forum, January 23, 2007. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/NXI44 Its founder and Director is Peter Whittle, a former UKIP leader in the London Assembly, the party’s former Culture and Communities Spokesperson (2014-2018), and its Deputy Leader (2016-2017).

Past 55 Tufton Street Residents

Vote Leave

Vote Leave was the official pro-Brexit campaign. The group was originally a resident of 55 Tufton Street before moving to a bigger office several months before the referendum.35Tom Bawden. “The address where Eurosceptics and climate change sceptics rub shoulders,” The Independent, February 10, 2016. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/PSL5U Members of the “Vote Leave Campaign Committee” included Nigel Lawson,36“Nigel Lawson named chairman of Vote Leave campaign,” The Guardian, February 3, 2016. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/aDFgV Matthew Elliott, Graham Stringer (also a GWPF trustee37“Board of Trustees,” Global Warming Policy Foundation. Archived December 7, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.), along with prominent Conservative Party politicians Andrea Leadsom, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.38“About the campaign,” Vote leave, take control. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/PMq23 Matt Ridley was at one time the vice president of the group, according to the Guardian.39Matt Ridley. “Voting to leave the EU looks like Britain’s best option,” MattRidley, October 15, 2015. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/2R3QZ 40“The Guardian view on the leave campaign: anatomy of another elite,” The Guardian, June 14, 2016. Archived December 8, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/U42rb 

GWPF and Tory donor Michael Hintze also donated to Vote Leave.41Kyla Mandel. “Climate Denial Funder Michael Hintze Gave £100K to Vote Leave Campaign Day Before Brexit Vote,” DeSmog UK, July 11, 2016.

Leave Means Leave

Leave Means Leave was a pro-Brexit campaign group formed following the 2016 EU referendum to “ensure the UK makes a swift, clean exit from the EU.”42“Our Campaign,” Leave Means Leave. Archived October 24, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/OSgms It backed a “hard” Brexit with the UK leaving the European Single Market, the Customs Union and the European Court of Justice, and supported the UK reverting to World Trade Organisation rules.43“Advisory Board,” Leave Means Leave. Archived October 24, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/Lz13E The group was co-founded by Richard Tice, a property developer and now party leader of Reform UK (formerly the Brexit Party), and John Longworth, former Director General of the British Chamber of Commerce, and a Brexit Party Member of European Parliament (MEP) from 2019 to 2020.44Richard Tice. “Stop the betrayal of Brexit. Join us on the March to Leave.” ConservativeHome, March 10, 2019. Archived May 3, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/D69H4 Its advisory board included MPs Sammy Wilson, Owen Paterson, Graham Stringer, Kate Hoey and Peter Bone.45“Advisory Board,” Leave Means Leave. Archived October 24, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/Lz13E 

On a now-deleted page on the group’s website, Nigel Farage was listed as its vice chair, along with Tice.46“Who we are,” Leave Means Leave. Archived February 4, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/7rihv The group ceased to operate on January 31, 2020, the day Britain left the EU, with its website stating that it had “achieved its aims.”47“Homepage,” Leave Means Leave. Archived August 26, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/HvizB A telephone number previously used by the group48“Media,” Leave Means Leave. Archived March 14, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. is in use as the contact number for the Economists for Free Trade (EFT)49“Contact,” Economists for Free Trade. Archived August 26, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/JRAcf and the Centre for Brexit Policy (CBP)50“Contact Us,” Centre for Brexit Policy. Archived August 26, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/f1Qg1 and has been linked to the office of Media Intelligence Partners.51“Homepage,” Victoria Borwick – Conservative Campaigner and Activist (personal website.) Archived August 26, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/tIVdF

UK2020

UK2020 was a right-wing think tank set up by former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson in 2014 that drew comparisons with the American “Tea Party” movement.52“MP Owen Paterson to launch US-style ‘Tea Party’,” Shropshire Star, November 4, 2014. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/uaVkZ Among its policy recommendations was “a robust, common sense energy policy that would encourage the market to choose affordable technologies to reduce emissions.”53Tom Bawden. “The address where Eurosceptics and climate change sceptics rub shoulders,” The Independent, February 10, 2016. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/PSL5U These technologies include shale gas and small modular nuclear reactors. 

UK2020 also advocated for the stripping back of regulations and subsidies in the energy sector designed to combat climate change. Matt Ridley of the GWPF was a policy advisor for UK202054“People,” UK2020. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/XnrEp and Tim Montgomerie, founder of ConservativeHome and a former senior fellow at the Legatum Institute, was their political adviser.55“People,” UK2020. Archived May 20, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ugqT7

Business for Britain

Business for Britain was a pro-Brexit campaign group for business leaders founded in 2013 by Matthew Elliott to push for a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.56“Business for Britain Limited: Filing History,” Companies House. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/Shctk In 2014, it released a briefing paper on ‘Energy Policy and the EU’, claiming that EU regulations and policy had driven up the cost of energy in the UK and recommending that the government should consider opting out of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.57Matthew Elliot and Oliver Lewis. “Energy Policy and the EU,” Business for Britain, July 10, 2015. Archived January 4, 2024. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Matt Ridley, an advisor to the GWPF, launched the Business for Britain North East branch,58Graeme Whitfield. “Anti-EU business campaign Business for Britain launches in County Durham,” Chronicle Live, January 5, 2016. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/6puhX and Lord Vinson acted as an advisor to the group.59James Crisp. “Brexit campaign leadership dominated by climate-sceptics,” Euractiv, May 24, 2016. Archived January 2, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/1fzMF

The European Foundation

The European Foundation was a high-profile Eurosceptic think tank60“About,” European Foundation. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/reW2J formed in 1993 to oppose the Maastricht Treaty and chaired by Conservative MP Bill Cash. The group published a report in 2009 during the Copenhagen climate summit entitled “100 reasons why global warming is natural” that denied there is any proof that human influence has anything to do with climate change.61Martyn Brown. “100 reasons why global warming is natural,” The Express, December 15, 2009. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/XgJjS. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 

Members of the group’s advisory board included Matthew Elliott, Richard Smith (the owner of 55 Tufton Street), former UKIP MEP Roger Helmer, and Conservative MPs David Davis, Oliver Letwin, Bernard Jenkin, John Whittingdale, Graham Brady, Iain Duncan-Smith, and Owen Paterson.62“Personnel,” European Foundation. Archived October 23, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/syzEG

Global Vision

Global Vision was a Eurosceptic campaign group launched in 2007 by the Conservative peer Lord Blackwell, chair of Lloyds Banking Group and a former Board Member of the Centre for Policy Studies, and Ruth Lea, a former Trustee of the Global Warming Policy Foundation and an advisor to the TaxPayers’ Alliance.63“UK can shape new European relationship (Financial Times),” Centre for Policy Studies, January 7, 2013. Archived October 24, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/8c98Q

According to its website, the group promoted “a constructive new relationship between the UK and Europe based on free trade and mutually beneficial cooperation, whilst opting out of the process of political and economic integration.”64“Our Vision,” Global Vision. Archived October 24, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/hHPzC Its Economic Advisory Panel included Neil Record, Patrick Minford (Chair of Economists for Free Trade) and Eamonn Butler (Founder/Director of the Adam Smith Institute).65“Economic Advisory Panel,” Global Vision. Archived October 24, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/bS4nr A now-deleted webpage listed MPs and peers belonging to the “Parliamentary Friends of Global Vision,” which included Bill Cash, Christopher Chope, Philip Davies, Peter Lilley and Lord Vinson.66“Parliamentary Friends,” Global Vision. Archived February 7, 2012. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/w1gcz

Its “Business Supporters” included oil and minerals businessman Algy Cluff, GWPF donor Michael Hintze, and Jacob Rees-Mogg.67“Business Supporters,” Global Vision. Archived October 25, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/wT2W5

The Tufton Street Network

A number of buildings in the vicinity of 55 Tufton Street also house several like minded groups. 

The Centre for Policy Studies

The Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), based in 57 Tufton Street, is a free market think tank co-founded by Margaret Thatcher in 1974, five years before she was elected Prime Minister.68“Who we are,” Centre for Policy Studies. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/tOFkr Lord Vinson was another co-founder of the organisation and subsequently served as director.69“Lord Vinson,” Parliament. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/VeAGP

It has regularly published work by climate science denier and anti-renewables advocate Rupert Darwall.70Search Results for “darwall,” Centre for Policy Studies. Archived November 22, 2019. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8fqO5 The CPS runs the CapX news and comment website, which has published numerous articles by GWPF members criticising clean energy. Ahead of the UK’s adoption of the Climate Change Act in 2008, it published a report casting doubt on climate science and arguing that energy policy should be based on long-term energy security rather than emissions reductions.71Martin Livermore. “Climate Change: a guide to the scientific uncertainties,” Centre for Policy Studies, March 2007. Archived October 25, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/l8WiH 

In April 2022, the CPS included fracking in a list of “significant missed opportunities” by the government, along with onshore wind and home insulation.72“CPS welcomes energy security strategy, but warns of missed opportunities,” Centre for Policy Studies, April 7, 2022. Archived September 25, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/TZb19 This followed years of lobbying from the CPS on the subject, including a report in December 2013 entitled, “Why every serious environmentalist should favour fracking”.73“Why every serious environmentalist should favour fracking,” Centre for Policy Studies, December 6, 2013. Archived November 29, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/MnPSW

The CPS is chaired by the billionaire financier and Conservative donor, Lord Michael Spencer.“74Our Board,” Centre for Policy Studies. Archived August 26, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/PtY6K Its board members include Conservative donor Lord Anthony Bamford, Conservative Treasurer Graham Edwards, Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady, Conservative peer Lord Strathclyde, former Conservative co-chair Ben Elliot, and Spectator editor Fraser Nelson. 

More recently the group has published a series of essays from Conservative politicians which called on the party to show leadership in tackling climate change75“New Blue: Ideas for a new generation,” Centre for Policy Studies. Archived August 26, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. and argued in favour of a carbon border tax.76“Carbon border tax would stop Britain hiding its true carbon emissions,” Centre for Policy Studies, March 13, 2020. Archived August 26, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/6z2qy

Institute of Economic Affairs

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), based in 2 Lord North Street, is a free-market think tank and “educational charity” founded in 1955 by the late Sir Anthony Fisher and Lord Harris.77“About us,” Institute of Economic Affairs. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/Mqkgc 

Trustees linked to 55 Tufton Street organisations include Lord Vinson, Neil Record, and formerly Michael Hintze.78“Trustees,” Institute of Economic Affairs. Archived December 7, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/7HGYF The IEA has received significant amounts of funding from anonymous donors through DonorsTrust, as well as yearly donations from oil giant BP, as revealed by Unearthed in 2018.79Lawrence Carter, Alice Ross. “Revealed: BP and gambling interests fund secretive free market think tank,” Unearthed, July 30, 2018. Archived May 3, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. It has also taken donations from tobacco companies.80“Health groups dismayed by news ‘big tobacco’ funded rightwing thinktanks.” The Observer, June 1, 2013. Archived September 29, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/TRdJz

The IEA has called for the fracking ban to be overturned81“The fracking ban is yet another missed opportunity to expand our energy supply,” IEA, October 27, 2022. Archived August 21, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/iNZbA and has advocated for the government to approve the opening of a new coal mine in Cumbria,82“The return of British coal mining?,” IEA, March 26, 2022. Archived April 23, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/3ClOQ while senior IEA figures – including Mark Littlewood – have called on ministers to scrap its net zero emissions target.83Adam Barnett. “Scrap UK’s Net Zero Target, Key Figure in Pro-Truss Think Tank Tells Tory Conference,” DeSmog, October 3, 2022. 84“Common Ground: Is it time to put net zero on hold?,” YouTube video uploaded by user Sky News, March 29, 2022.

Adam Smith Institute

The Adam Smith Institute, based in 23 Great Smith Street, is a think tank founded in 1977 to promote free-market ideas. It has published numerous articles and reports casting doubt on climate science85Alex Singleton. “Parliament goes hostile on climate change,” Adam Smith Institute, September 11, 2013. Archived April 30, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. and downplaying the potential of alternatives to fossil fuels, calling solar power in Britain an “impossible dream.”86“SOLAR POWER IN BRITAIN: THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM,” Adam Smith Institute, October 14, 2016. Archived January 10, 2017. Archive URL: https://archive.is/sCktv

The group has also taken donations from tobacco companies.87“Health groups dismayed by news ‘big tobacco’ funded rightwing thinktanks.” The Observer, June 1, 2013. Archived September 29, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.is/TRdJz

Co-founder and director Eamonn Butler sat on the Economic Advisory Board of now dormant Tufton Street organisation Global Vision.88“Economic Advisory Panel,” Global Vision. Archived October 24, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/bS4nr

Institute for Free Trade

The Institute for Free Trade (formerly Initiative for Free Trade) (IFT) is a pro-Brexit, free trade think tank launched in September 2017 by Boris Johnson and Liam Fox inside the Foreign Office.89Mat Hope. “Introducing the Institute for Free Trade: A New Pro-Brexit Thinktank tied to the UK’s Climate Science Denier Network,” DeSmog UK, September 27, 2017. The group’s president is Conservative peer and former MEP Lord Daniel Hannan, who has downplayed the threat of climate change, believing humanity can adapt to any impacts “with a fractional sum of money.”90“Global warming: scientists are not always the right experts,” YouTube video uploaded by user “DanHannan” on December 15, 2014. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. 

In 2018, the IFT published a “blueprint” for a deregulatory US–UK free trade deal, in partnership with the US-based libertarian think tank the Cato Institute.91Felicity Lawrence, David Pegg, Rob Evans. “Rightwing thinktanks unveil radical plan for US-UK Brexit trade deal,” Guardian, September 18, 2018. Archived October 23, 2019. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/Fttto A number of long-time opponents of climate action are closely involved in the group, including former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Conservative peer Peter Lilley.92“About”, Initiative for Free Trade. Archived January 23, 2020. Archive URL: http://archive.md/os9Sy Hannan is an advisor to the government’s Board of Trade.

The IFT was previously based at 57 Tufton Street, according to Companies House records. It then moved to 10 Buckingham Street and is now based in the Vinson Building – named after Lord Nigel Vinson – at the University of Buckingham.93“Institute for Free Trade Ltd,” Companies House. Archived January 3, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/UeJIa

55 Tufton Street Contact & Address

55 Tufton Street

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