Extinction Rebellion are nearly halfway through there 2 weeks of action. Over 1,000 people have been already been arrested. Reports this morning are stating that one of the UK’s wealthiest men is a major financial backer of Extinction Rebellion. Sir Christopher Hohn, who is worth an estimated £1.2 billion, gave £50,000 to the group who have behaved like hooligans this week.
However, whilst this may seem unethical it is Mr Hohn’s choice as to how he spends his money. However, Sir Christopher Hohn co-founded, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation which has also donated more than £150,000. However, Mr Hohn maintains that none of his money was spent on civil disobedience. Andrew Medway who is a former trader at HSBC Holdings Plc and Lloyds Banking Group Plc is in charge of donations for Extinction Rebellion and has stated that the group has raised over £2.5million since it was launched in October 2018.
As part of Oliver Down’s work with IMPRESS on charitable foundations, UNN is well-read in stipulations around charities donating money to other organisations and there are a strict set of guidelines that they have to adhere to. The Charity Commission, who govern charities, states on its own website that any money given other organisations “can only be used in line with your charity’s purposes”. Mr Medway has been forced to explain the grant from CIFF. He states the payment was made before their first major protest in April and that “detailed discussions” took place about what it would be spent on.
The Telegraph was able to obtain comment from the charity commission. The statement from a spokesperson read: “The public care deeply that charities can show good stewardship of funds and remain true to their values in all that they do. Our guidance is clear that charities must ensure any funds given to other non-charities are used solely in line with their charitable purposes and put sufficient controls in place to ensure that this is the case.”
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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