BBC Guest Bashing Regulation Called Out For Link To Oil-Funded Think Tank During Live Debate
Guardian columnist George Monbiot called out fellow guest Reem Ibrahim for her role at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IES) as a point of relevancy during a debate about economic growth and regulation, an organisation he said was funded by “oil companies” and “tobacco companies.”
The pair were appearing on BBC Politics Wednesday when Monbiot made the point that Gross domestic product (GDP) should not be confused with “actual human well-being” and said noted that “the blind pursuit of growth” had also resulted “in trashing our climate, trashing our soils [and] trashing our ecosystems.”
Ibrahim, who works as a communications officer for the IEA, countering, argued that she was “interested in how [Monbiot] would like to measure general well-being” and that a free-market approach to trade between companies was key.
“I actually do think that by allowing businesses and allowing those individuals to trade with one another, that’s how we can achieve that kind of growth. And I don’t think that growth is a bad thing. I think growth is a very positive thing. It’s very politically charged…” Ibrahim said.
She continued: “But ultimately, if we’re actively implementing policies that are not going to be supporting the way in which the economy is growing, we’ve got to stop talking about growth in that way. Well, course, of course, you want to rip down regulations.”
Monbiot interrupted: “Of course, you don’t care about the natural world because you’re from the Institute of Economic Affairs, which is funded by oligarchs and corporations.”
Emphasising that who Ibrahim worked for was a point of relevancy he continued: “The IEA.
Pointedly and continually refuses to reveal who funds it. When we find out who funds you, we discover it’s oil companies, it’s tobacco companies, it’s the most ruthless and rapacious…”
In her defence, Ibrahim dismissed Monbiot’s point as a “conspiracy theory” he was “obsessed with.” She said that she had been born into socialism and sincerely believed in what she was arguing, speaking as an individual and not on behalf of her employer.
“What George is saying,” she replied, “is he thinks that I’m being funded by dark lobbyists because he doesn’t think that I believe the things that I’m saying. I think it is incredibly offensive for you to sit here and tell me that I don’t believe the things that I’m saying…I believe in individual liberty. I believe in free markets and I believe in people having the power to spend their own money without governments taking it from them. So I’m incredibly offended by this insinuation.”
“Like the other dark money think tank staff…” Monbiot replied before the host interjected.
Spokespeople for the IEA, a highly influential London-based free-market think tank, have been openly critical of the government’s net zero targets and promoted the UK’s exploitation of North Sea fossil gas as well as fracking.
Research data by the Conservative Transparency project collected from publicly-available tax forms on the Institute of Economic Affairs found that major donors to the IEA via the American Friends of the Institute of Economic Affairs included companies like Exxon Mobil.
The IEA writes that it is “entirely independent of any political party or group, and is entirely funded by voluntary donations from individuals, companies and foundations who want to support its work, plus income from book sales and conferences. It does no contract work and accepts no money from government.”
