Foreign influence: how US donors are funding UK right-wing groups
New analysis shows American conservatives donate millions to UK think-tanks

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Wealthy American donors are backing right-wing groups in the UK with millions of dollars of funding, an investigation has found.
Research by The Guardian shows that a total of 11 US benefactors have donated more than $3.7m (£2.9m) over the past five years – “raising questions about the influence of foreign funding on British politics”, says the newspaper.
The UK organisations receiving the donations promote a right-wing political agenda of privatisation of public services, low tax and lower regulation on business. They include the Institute of Economic Affairs, Policy Exchange and the Adam Smith Institute.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Guardian has compiled a list of some of the US donors who have contributed to British groups since 2014.
A total of $3.3m (£2.6m) was given to three groups by foundations funded by the ultra-conservative US financier Sir John Templeton, who died in 2008.
One of these foundations gave a donation worth $1.5m (£1.2m) to the Legatum Institute, which as a registered charity is legally required to be politically neutral. Last year, Legatum was ordered by the Charity Commission to remove a report from its website advocating a hard Brexit.
The Adam Smith Institute, a right-wing think-tank, received $1.4m (£1.1m) from a Templeton foundation. The Adam Smith Institute was given a poor “E” rating by the UK campaign for think-tank transparency, Who Funds You? Its website previously offered access to government ministers in exchange for donations.
And the John Templeton Foundation gave $497,000 (£384,605) to the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). “The money has been given to researching alternatives to the NHS for an ageing population and to fund work on inspiring young people to become supporters of free markets, according to the foundation,” says The Guardian.
Andy Mayer, the IEA’s chief operating officer, said: “In any year around 5-10% of our income comes from the US (most of the rest from the UK).”
The IEA “is very happy and grateful to be part-funded by American institutes and American citizens who share our values, and whose extraordinary generosity supports our programmes”, said Mayer.
The IEA was given a formal warning by the Charity Commission in February for a report it produced calling for a hard Brexit, which was endorsed by David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg. The report has since been edited and republished, and the warning withdrawn.
The identities of the people behind many other donations remain unknown because their donations cannot be traced in public record.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Why is the government on the brink of a shutdown?
Today's Big Question GOP infighting is bringing the country to a standstill, but even Republicans aren't entirely sure why
By Rafi Schwartz Published
-
Today’s political cartoons — September 29, 2023
Friday's cartoons - Biden's dog bite incident, the government shutdown and more
By The Week Staff Published
-
'A teetering democracy of gerontocrats?'
Instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass Published
-
Why is the UK pushing Germany on fighter jets for Saudi Arabia?
Today's big question Berlin has opposed the sale of weapons to Riyadh on humanitarian grounds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Is it time the world re-evaluated the rules on migration?
Today's Big Question Home Secretary Suella Braverman questions whether 1951 UN Refugee Convention is 'fit for our modern age'
By The Week Staff Published
-
Rishi Sunak's tree code: what is the PM's election strategy?
Today's Big Question Conservative leader lining up major policy announcements in bid to rebrand as 'change' candidate
By Elliott Goat Published
-
Will Rishi Sunak's green wedge issue win over the public?
Today's Big Question The PM draws dividing line with Labour on net zero ahead of the next general election
By Sorcha Bradley Published
-
Industry backlash as Sunak set to water down green pledges
Speed Read Automotive and energy bosses look for clarity after PM backs away from UK net zero goal
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
October by-elections: what's at stake for Labour, Lib Dems and Tories
Parties will contest two former safe Tory seats on 19 October, putting pressure on Rishi Sunak
By Harriet Marsden Published
-
Jobs for the boys: does the UK need a minister for men?
Conservative MP calls for dedicated cabinet role to combat 'crisis' in men's mental health and education
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The new Windsor framework: Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal explained in five points
feature PM reaches agreement with EU over new Northern Ireland trading arrangements
By Sorcha Bradley Last updated