Tell the BBC not to invite speakers from thinktanks that hide their funding

Tell the BBC not to invite speakers from thinktanks that hide their funding

Started
17 November 2022
Signatures: 681Next Goal: 1,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Mike Cushman

Open Democracy has revealed that many of the thinktanks that regularly appear on BBC news and current affairs programmes refuse to say who funds them. Accountability requires we have a right to know who these thinktanks represent. Funding affects findings which affects the views that are presented.

These thinktanks are presented as neutral experts but they are hired guns.

Six of the least transparent think tanks also received the lowest ‘E’ rating in 2019, meaning they have not made any significant improvements.–

the Adam Smith Institute,
the Centre for Policy Studies,
Civitas,
the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA),
Policy Exchange and
the TaxPayers’ Alliance 

The three other think tanks have got worse. They received the lowest transparency rating this year but scored higher in 2019 

the Centre for Social Justice,
the Legatum Institute and
ResPublica, 


These nine groups receive millions from secret donors each year.

If the BBC stops inviting them, it will encourage them to be more open about their funding and trust will be improved.

They want to influence us so we have a right to know who is influencing them.

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Signatures: 681Next Goal: 1,000
Support now
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