Hylton Guthrie from North Shields, Tyne and Wear, responds to Polly Toynbee's article about the decline in funding for centre-left thinktanks, specifically noting the termination of the Financial Fairness Trust by Aberdeen Group. He argues that the financial vulnerability of thinktanks dependent on profit-driven financial businesses like Aberdeen Group is a fundamental weakness in their funding model. Guthrie points out that this vulnerability is obvious without even considering the morals of Alistair Darling founding such a trust based on a demutualisation, which he says underlines the tokenism at the heart of such a funding model.
Germany's State-Funded Model as an Alternative
Guthrie contrasts the UK situation with Germany, where state funding of political parties is accompanied by state funding for party political foundations. Each party has its own foundation funded based on the size of its vote share. He argues that the UK has a problem with corrupt political funding and suggests that now might be the time for the Labour party to address the issue by moving to a state-funded model. Guthrie criticises New Labour and Darling for preferring to have thinktanks dependent on financial capital rather than setting up a state-funded model, calling it another example of short-termism.
Opportunity for Andy Burnham?
Andy McWilliam from Handforth, Cheshire, expresses shock at the closure of the High Pay Centre, as reported in Polly Toynbee's article. He wonders if there is an opportunity for Andy Burnham to take it over as a government regulatory body and give it fiscal teeth. McWilliam notes that there must be excellent staff in the job market who could contribute to such an initiative.
The letters highlight concerns about thinktank funding models and propose alternative approaches to ensure independence and effectiveness in addressing issues like corporate governance and inequality.
