Neil Record

Credentials

• Record was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and University College London, from where he holds an MSc in Economics. [1]

Background

Neil Record is Chairman of both the UK-based libertarian thinktank the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), and the Global Warming Policy Forum, campaign arm of the climate science denial organisation founded by Lord Nigel Lawson. Record, a City currency manager, is also a known donor to the GWPF. [2], [3], [4]

Record is a major Conservative Party donor, having given £450,000 to the party and MP Matt Hancock since 2008, according to official records. During the Brexit campaign in 2016 he was listed as a business supporter of Business for Britain, a pro-Brexit group linked to 55 Tufton Street. [5], [6]

Stance on Climate Change

October 4, 2015

In an email, Record told Greenpeace’s Unearthed unit: [7]

“I believe that the important scientific enquiry required for us to understand man’s effect on the climate is being hampered by a monolithic ‘establishment’ view that the science is settled.”

[…]

“It is also clear that some of the current popular political choices for carbon reduction (wind; solar in high latitudes) are woefully inefficient and unsustainable,” Record said. “Advances in technology will undoubtedly continue to allow us to improve our carbon/GDP efficiency, but only if the current climate obsessions and fashions are subjected to proper scrutiny.”

Key Quotes

September 2, 2014

After Record was revealed as a GWPF donor, he told the Guardian: [3]

“I personally regard the continuing contribution of the GWPF to the climate change debate as very positive in assisting balance and rationality in this contentious area.”

Key Deeds

November 2017

The Herald revealed that Record had donated £2,000 to Scottish Conservative MP John Lamont’s local party in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk earlier in 2017. The news prompted SNP MSP Graeme Dey to call the Scottish Tories “shameless hypocrites” when it comes to the environment. [8]

November 2014

Matthew Hancock, received a donation of £4,000 from Neil Record a few months after Hancock was appointed as the Conservative Party’s energy and climate change minister. Since 2011, Hancock has accepted £18,000 from Record. [7]

September 2014

Neil Record was revealed to be one of the GWPF’s funders but the amount donated was not disclosed, with Record stating the amount was a “private matter.”[3], [9]

April 2012

Hancock authored a Conservative Free Enterprise Group report calling for the government to cut wind and solar subsidies and push ahead with shale gas exploration and extraction. [10]

2010

During his race to become MP for West Suffolk, Hancock helped to campaign against onshore wind developments in his region.  [7]

Affiliations

• Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) — Chairman. [2]
• Global Warming Policy Forum — Chairman.
• Record Currency Management — Chairman and founder. [11]
• Remuneration Committee of Nuffield College — Chairman. [11]
• Business for Britain — “Business supporter” as of 2016. [6]

Social Media

Neil Record does not appear to be active on social media.

Publications

• Sir Humphrey’s Legacy: facing up to the cost of public sector pensions. Institute of Economic Affairs, September 26, 2006.

Resources

1. Neil Record. Sir Humphrey’s Legacy: facing up to the cost of public sector pensions. Institute of Economic Affairs, September 26, 2006.
2. “The Institute of Economics Affairs: Trustees’ Report” (PDF), for year ended December 31, 2017. Retrieved from charitycommission.gov.uk. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
3. “Two secret funders of Nigel Lawson’s climate sceptic organisation revealed,” The Guardian, September 2, 2014. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/0YRUz
4. “Who we are,” Global Warming Policy Forum. Archived October 30, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.md/lwIeF
5. Donations search via The Electoral Commission. Search performed December 21, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
6. “Business Supporters,” Business for Britain. Archived May 12, 2016. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/VLeQF
7. Lucy Jordan. “Energy minister accepts £18,000 from board member of climate sceptic group,” Unearthed, October 4, 2015. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/5F4vR
8. “Ruth Davidson in ‘hypocrisy’ row over donation from climate change sceptic,” The Herald, November 25, 2017. Archived January 3, 2019.
9. Brendan Montague. “Exposed: Lawson’s Climate Denial Donors’ Links to Tobacco and Oil Backed Think Tank,” DeSmog UK, September 2, 2014.
10. Edward Malnick and Robert Watts. “Renovation tax will harm our churches, warns Hurd,” The Telegraph, April 21, 2012. Archived January 3, 2019.
11. “Neil Record – Chairman,” Record Currency Management. Archived December 21, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/MQf5v

Other Resources

• “Neil Record,” Wikipedia. 

Photo: screengrab from YouTube