politeia

a group of right-wing think tanks from both sides of the Atlantic published their version of an "ideal" post-Brexit trade deal. Unsurprisngly, it involved slashing regulation.

The document was put together by the Institute for Free Trade (technically called the 'IFT' as it never got official permission to be called an 'institute') in the UK, and the Cato Institute in the US. Both sit at the heart of a network of lobbyists pushing extreme free-trade policies and disinformation on climate change.

But among the usual suspects listed in the acknowledgements (Shanker Singham, the Hertage Foundation, the Institute of Economic Affairs et al) was a lesser known outfit: Politeia.

Politeia is a free-market organisation established in 1995 that aims to act as “a forum for discussing economic, constitutional and social policy”, according to its website.

It lists climate science denier Deepak Lal - who sits on the board of the Global Warming Policy Foundation - among its members. And it is bankrolled by major Tory donor, George Robinson.

Oddly enough, given the subject matter of the post-Brexit trade deal paper, Politeia also has Lib Dem leader and arch-Remainer Vince Cable on its advisory council. I wonder what he makes of the coalition's calls for the NHS to be opened up to foreign companies and advise to trash environmental regulation...?

Read more about Politeia's (mis)deeds in its full profile in our Disinformation Database. Think we've missed something? Get in touch - database@desmog.uk