Dusty Wentworth

Think tanks are often presented as neutral research bodies, offering independent expertise to politicians. Scratch beneath the surface, however, and they look far less impartial. Funded by opaque donors, many function as unregulated lobbying outfits — shaping laws, budgets, and public debate without a shred of democratic accountability. Lobbying in Disguise: The Legal Loophole Britain already has a lobbying register, created by the 2014 Lobbying Act. But here’s the catch: it only applies to consultant lobbyists. Think tanks are exempt. That means a minister can receive a policy paper drafted by a think tank bankrolled by hedge funds, oil firms, or even foreign states — and the public has no way of knowing who really wrote it. Imagine a report recommending lower corporate taxes, paid for entirely by a billionaire who stands to gain most from the change. While the Ministerial Code requires ministers to declare meetings with outside organisations, it does not cover reports, br...