Sir James Spooner (Deceased)

Credentials

• Spooner was educated at West Downs School during the Tindall Era (1922 – 1954). [1]

Background

Sir James Spooner was an honorary treasurer and trustee of the UK think tank the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), a group founded by climate science denier Nigel Lawson with the purpose of combating what Lawson has described as “extremely damaging and harmful policies” designed to mitigate climate change. [2], [3]

Spooner was also previously chairman of Barclays Bank and Sainsbury’s supermarket. He was also once the chairman of the Royal Opera and a variety of other groups. [4], [5]

Stance on Climate Change

The Global Warming Policy Foundation, of which Spooner was a trustee, has released reports contending that policies to mitigate climate change are “based on climate models that completely failed to predict the lack of warming for the past two decades” and that “Carbon dioxide has been mercilessly demonized as ‘carbon pollution’, when in fact it is a benefit to the planet.” [6]

Key Quotes

Speaking to the Guardian about donating to the GWPF, Spooner said: [7]

“I’m a very small contributor – a four-figure number at the most.” He added that the foundation received “no money from companies whatsoever, nor from anybody anywhere near the energy industry in its broadest sense. The foundation is funded by individuals, foundations and trusts, but their identity is confidential.” 

Key Deeds

January 2011

The Guardian revealed Sir James Spooner as a GWPF funder following the think tank publishing its annual accounts listing Spooner as the honorary treasurer. [7]

Affiliations

• Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) — Former honorary treasurer and trustee. Appointed 2012 and resigned 2015. [2], [8], [9]
• Open Europe — Formerly listed as a supporter. [10]

Other Affiliations

• Glanmoor Investments — Director. [4]
• Royal Opera — Former chairman. Resigned as director in December 1997. [5]
• Pytchley House Estate — Director. [4]
• Merger Investments — Former director. Appointed 1995, resigned 2010. [4]
• Cleveland Square Properties — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 2010. [4]
• Glover Agency — Former director. Appointed 2002, resigned 2010. [4]
• Goldsmiths’ College Estates — Former director. Appointed 1993, resigned 2009. [4]
• Goldsmiths’ College Developments — Former director. Appointed 2000, resigned 2009. [4]
• Ram Development Company — Former director. Appointed 2002, resigned 2008. [4]
• St. Andrew’s Healthcare — Former director. Appointed 2004, resigned 2007. [4]
• The Beef and Liberty Company — Former director. Appointed 2005, resigned 2007. [4]
• The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music — Former director. Appointed 2003, resigned 2006. [4]
• Wonderful Beast — Former director. Appointed 1997, resigned 2004. [4]
• John Swire & Sons — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 2003. [4]
• Minorplanet Systems — Former director. Appointed 1997, resigned 2002. [4]
• Hermes Fund Managers — Former director. Appointed 1995, resigned 1998. [4]
• Britel Fund Nominees — Former director. Appointed 1992, resigned 1998. [4]
• Britel Fund Trustees — Former director Appointed 1992, resigned 1998. [4]
• Folkenstone Race Course — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 1998. [4]
• Roh Pension Trustee — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 1998. [4]
• Roh Holdings — Former director. Appointed 1992, resigned 1997. [4]
• Roh Management — Former director. Appointed 1992, resigned 1997. [4]
• Morgan Advanced Materials — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 1997. [4]
• Roh Developments — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 1997. [4]
• Hemming Group — Former director Appointed 1993, resigned 1996. [4]
• J Sainsbury — Former director. Appointed prior to 1992. Resigned 1994. [4]
• J Sainsbury Common Investment Fund — Former director. Appointed 1993, resigned 1994. [4]
• Barclays Bank and Barclays PLC — Former director. Appointed prior to 1992, resigned 1994. [4]
• Longford Trust — Patron. [11]

Social Media

Sir James Spooner does not appear to be active on social media.

Publications

Sir James Spooner does not appear to have published any articles in major news outlets.

Resources

1. “Old West Downs Society – Memories of the Tindall Era, 1922-1954,” WestDowns.com. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mR6a6
2. “Sir James Spooner (1932-2019),” Global Warming Policy Forum. Archived March 5, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/TzUK0
3. “Ed Miliband clashes with Lord Lawson on global warming,” BBC News, December 6, 2009. Archived August 17, 2015.
4. “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
5. “Royal Opera board offer to resign,” BBC News, December 4, 1997. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/t2Wx2
6. Andrew Montford. “Unintended Consequences of Climate Change Policy,” Global Warming Policy Foundation, January 2015. Archived August 17, 2015. 
7. Leo Hickman. “Global Warming Policy Foundation donor funding levels revealed,” The Guardian, January 20, 2011. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mTREc
8. “THE GLOBAL WARMING POLICY FOUNDATION: Company number 06962749,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/uHVCW
9. “Board of Trustees,” The Global Warming Policy Foundation. Archived July 1, 2014. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/c8eCa
10. “Supporters,” OpenEurope. Archived March 31, 2010. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/9TSNp
11. Homepage, The Longford Trust. Archived March 4, 2010. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nvjMU

Other Resources

• “Sir James Spooner,” Sourcewatch.