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{{Short description|Educational charity based in London, England}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = Legatum Institute
|image =
|image_size =
|size =
|abbreviation =
|purpose = "Promoting policies that lift people from poverty to prosperity"
|formation =
|key_people = Alan McCormick (chairman), Toby Baxendale
|type = [[Think tank]]
|headquarters = 11 Charles Street, London, W1J 5DW
|location = [[London]], [[England]]
|website = {{url|li.com}}
}}
The '''Legatum Institute''' is a [[think tank]] based in London, UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07430903 |title=THE LEGATUM INSTITUTE FOUNDATION |publisher=Companies House |access-date=26 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1140719&subid=0 |title=Legatum Institute Foundation |publisher=Charity Commission |access-date=26 February 2018}}</ref> Its stated aim is to advance the education of the public in national and international political, social and economic policy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonspringer/2014/11/14/legatums-2014-prosperity-index-asia-positives-for-entrepreneurship-indonesia-mongolia/&ref |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907033822/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonspringer/2014/11/14/legatums-2014-prosperity-index-asia-positives-for-entrepreneurship-indonesia-mongolia/&ref |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 September 2018 |title=Legatum's 2014 Prosperity Index: Asia Positives For Entrepreneurship, Indonesia, Mongolia |date=14 November 2014 |last1=Springer |first1=Jon |work=Forbes |access-date=26 February 2018}}</ref> The Institute has over forty donors including the [[Legatum|Legatum Foundation]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fac8b53e-d840-11e7-a039-c64b1c09b482 |title=Legatum: the think-tank at intellectual heart of 'hard' Brexit |date=4 December 2017 |last1=O'Murchu |first1=Cynthia |publisher=Financial Times |access-date=9 March 2018}}</ref> It has been called "arguably the most influential think tank in Britain pushing its free market pro-Brexit vision and enjoying privileged access to media and ministers" but it has attracted controversy as a result of its opaque, offshore funding.<ref name="opendemocracy.net">{{Cite web|title=Legatum: the Brexiteers' favourite think tank. Who is behind them?|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/legatum-who-are-brexiteers-favourite-think-tank-and-who-is-behind-them/|access-date=2021-09-19|website=openDemocracy|language=en}}</ref>

==History, operations and funding ==
The Legatum Institute was founded in 2007, funded by the Dubai-based [[Legatum|Legatum Group]] under its owner [[Christopher Chandler (businessman)|Christopher Chandler]], a businessman and hedge fund owner.<ref>{{cite web|date=8 December 2016|title=Londoner's Diary: Love's Legatum Lost in battle over Brexit|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/londoners-diary-loves-legatum-lost-in-battle-over-brexit-a3415381.html|access-date=14 March 2018|publisher=Evening Standard}}</ref> Chandler and his brother, Richard, made their money in Russia in the 1990s/2000s and at one time had a 4% stake in the Russian state-owned company, [[Gazprom]]. The Institute is a beneficiary of his family foundation, [[Legatum|Legatum Foundation]].<ref name="ftmaltagrants">{{cite news|last1=O'Murchu|first1=Cynthia|date=29 January 2017|title=Malta grants EU citizenship to Legatum backer|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/110f57ee-02a3-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5?desktop=true|accessdate=29 January 2018}}</ref> The foundation is registered in Bermuda and controlled by a company in the Cayman Islands.<ref name="opendemocracy.net"/> The Legatum Foundation donates to a number of philanthropic initiatives, including the END Fund<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/aac0d518-0266-11e7-aa5b-6bb07f5c8e12 |work=Financial Times |title=Philanthropy: the search for the best way to give |last=Barasa |first=Louise Makau |date=19 August 2015}}</ref> and the [[Freedom Fund]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Murray |first=Sarah |title=Donors increasingly believe in pooling resources to create a bigger impact |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b649de54-1f36-11e9-a46f-08f9738d6b2b |date=4 March 2019}}</ref>

In 2018, it was criticised by the [[Charity Commission for England and Wales|Charity Commission]] for breaching its charitable objectives in publishing a partial and biased account of the benefits of free trade post-Brexit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Murchu |first=Cynthia |date=2018-05-31 |title=Legatum Institute criticised by Charity Commission |url=https://www.ft.com/content/50952a76-64da-11e8-a39d-4df188287fff |access-date=2021-09-19 |website=Financial Times}}</ref> It was closely aligned with the [[Vote Leave]] campaign giving fellowships to the campaign's chair, [[Gisela Stuart]], and its CEO, [[Matthew Elliott (political strategist)|Matthew Elliott]]. In 2017, it set up a "Special Trade Commission" headed by Shanker Singham, who became a prominent pro-Brexit voice across the media.{{fact|date=March 2022}}

It claims to be funded by more than 40 donors. These are not listed on its site or in its financial declarations.<ref name="thetimesbillionairebehindlegatum">{{cite news|last1=Leroux|first1=Marcus|title=Christopher Chandler: billionaire behind Legatum think tank has unrivalled access to Brexit MPs|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unrivalled-access-of-secretive-billionaire-christopher-chandler-funds-legatum-institute-885pb9vjc|accessdate=29 January 2018|work=The Times|date=14 October 2017}}</ref> The Institute is currently located in Mayfair.<ref>{{cite web|url=
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/matthew-elliott-what-man-behind-vote-leave-did-next-1615911 | title=Matthew Elliott: What the man behind Vote Leave did next | access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref> [[Philippa Stroud]] (formerly Executive Director of the [[Centre for Social Justice]], and a Conservative Party Peer in the [[House of Lords]]) was appointed CEO of the Legatum Institute in 2016 and left this post in March 2023 to head up the Institute’s Alliance for Responsible Citizenship.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.li.com/about/people | title=Legatum Institute - People | access-date=12 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915004210/http://www.li.com/about/people | archive-date=15 September 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityam.com/249243/conservative-peer-baroness-stroud-become-chief-executive |title=Conservative peer Baroness Stroud to become chief executive of Legatum Institute |date=12 September 2016 |last1=Cordell |first1=Jake |publisher=City A.M |access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="Eye1462">{{cite news|title=HP Sauce|work=Private Eye|issue=1462|date=January 2018|page=11}}</ref>

The Institute has been subject to controversy by way of Chandler, who in 2018 was accused of links to Russian intelligence by [[Bob Seely]], a Conservative MP.<ref name = Guardian518>{{Cite web|date=2018-05-01|title=Founder of pro-Brexit thinktank has link with Russian intelligence, says MP|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/01/christopher-chandler-founder-of-pro-brexit-thinktank-has-link-with-russian-intelligence-mp-says|access-date=2021-09-19|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Seely claimed that he and other MPs had seen French intelligence documents from 2005 suggesting he was a counterintelligence concern; Chandler and the Institute strongly disputed the allegations.<ref name = Guardian518/> Labour MP Ben Bradshaw had called for a Parliamentary investigation into the Institute's funding and support the previous year.<ref name = Guardian518/> In 2018, Chandler filed a libel lawsuit in the [[United States District Court for the District of Columbia|U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia]] against a private investigator he alleges produced the information claiming to show his ties to Russian intelligence.<ref name="Buzz1018">{{cite news |last1=Spence |first1=Alex |title=This Billionaire Was Accused Of Being A Russian Spy. Now He's Suing The Man He Says Is To Blame For $15m |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexspence/christopher-chandler-russian-spy-lawsuit-brexit |access-date=23 March 2022 |work=BuzzFeed |date=26 October 2018 |language=en-gb}}</ref> In 2022 Bryant conceded that the claims about Chandler had subsequently been disproved.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Peter |title=Chris Bryant to say sorry to billionaire over money-laundering claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/27/chris-bryant-say-sorry-to-billionaire-christopher-chandler-money-laundering-claims |access-date=28 July 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=27 July 2022}}</ref>

==Reports and advocacy==

===Current programmes and policies===
The Institute currently has a number of programmes including: the global prosperity index, African prosperity, Central and Eastern European prosperity, UK prosperity, United States prosperity, Social Metrics Commission, global index of economic openness, cultural transformation, race equality commission, peace and reconciliation, courage in journalism, global people movements and the 21st century international development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.li.com/programmes/introduction|title=Introducing our programmes|website=www.li.com}}</ref>

The Legatum Institute founded the 'Courage in Journalism' award in 2017 following the death of [[Daphne Caruana Galizia]] that same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theshiftnews.com/2017/12/16/two-months-since-daphnes-death/ |title=Two months since Daphne's death |date=16 December 2017 |last1=Muscat |first1=Caroline |publisher=The Shift |access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref> The award was created to highlight the dangers faced by journalists around the world and to support press freedom.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2019-05-14/debates/014283A9-FC1E-4053-A8DC-8DA40A7D8F93/AttacksOnJournalists?highlight=legatum#contribution-87D36755-F191-43BE-A4AB-2EDFC68CBB34 |title=Attacks on Journalists
|date=14 May 2019 |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://li.com/event/the-legatum-institute-courage-in-journalism-award/ |title=The Legatum Institute Courage in Journalism Award |date=29 April 2019 |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref> In 2019, Jan Kuciak, a Slovakian Journalist who died in 2018 at the age of 27, was named the winner of the annual prize.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://emerging-europe.com/news/jan-kuciak-wins-three-journalism-awards/ |title=Ján Kuciak wins three journalism awards |date=6 May 2019 |last1=Patricolo |first1=Claudia |publisher=Emerging Europe |access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref> In 2020, the award was given to Syrian journalist [[Raed Fares]] who ran Fresh Radio and was assassinated in [[Idlib]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-28|title=Courage in Journalism Award Goes to the Martyr Raed al-Fares|url=https://syrianobserver.com/news/56356/courage-in-journalism-award-goes-to-the-martyr-raed-al-fares.html|access-date=2021-04-04|website=The Syrian Observer}}</ref> The panel of judges included award-winning journalist [[Christina Lamb]] among others.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-01|title=Remember the courageous journalists who defy the decline of press freedom|url=https://reaction.life/remember-courageous-journalists-defy-decline-press-freedom/|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Reaction|language=en-US}}</ref>

The Legatum Institute houses the Social Metrics Commission, founded in 2016, which published its first report into UK poverty levels in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/db5d7fa2-b843-11e8-bbc3-ccd7de085ffe|title=New measure of poverty proposed for UK|access-date=17 Sep 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/16/what-is-the-new-uk-poverty-measure-and-why-is-it-needed|title=What is the new UK poverty measure – and why is it needed?|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=16 September 2018|access-date=19 Sep 2018}}</ref> The report found that 14.4 million people were living in poverty in 2017, including 4.5 million children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/16/new-study-finds-45-million-uk-children-living-in-poverty|title=New study finds 4.5 million UK children living in poverty|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=16 September 2018|access-date=19 Sep 2018}}</ref> On the 17th May 2019, the Department for Work and Pensions announced that it would adopt the Social Metrics Commission's methodology for measuring poverty in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/10ee615c-788f-11e9-bbad-7c18c0ea0201 |title=Ministers urged to make new poverty measure official |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/18/government-to-overhaul-measures-of-poverty-by-2020 |title=Government to overhaul measures of poverty by 2020 |date=18 May 2019 |last1=Grierson |first1=Jamie |work=The Guardian |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref> This was largely achieved due to the cross-party involvement and support of the new measure.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2018-12-19/debates/785092AB-6594-423B-A48E-41714F822FED/DisabilitySupport?highlight=social%20metrics%20commission#contribution-826A8B49-A0E9-4CE2-B2DD-70013AFA1926 |title=Disability Support |date=19 December 2018 |publisher=Hansard Parliament UK |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-03-04/debates/1E3A4E87-E2BC-4C53-98D5-E4497A48722D/SocialSecurity?highlight=social%20metrics%20commission#contribution-5650E587-55A0-4167-A674-C8D9D0E012EF |title=Social Security |date=4 March 2019 |publisher=Hansard Parliament UK |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-01-08/debates/1EC25998-330C-40DB-BEFB-1EF707727120/Finance(No3)Bill?highlight=social%20metrics%20commission#contribution-D029E75C-6654-4CE6-AB43-CDFF4FFAFF28 |title=Finance (No.3) Bill |date=8 January 2019 |publisher=Hansard Parliament UK |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref> The Commission's modelling was used by Baroness Stroud and the Legatum Institute in a campaign to call for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to retain the £20 Universal Credit uplift in Autumn 2021. The Institute estimated that "840,000" people would be shielded from poverty if the cut on Universal Credit was axed. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/universal-credit-architect-demands-20-25020568 |title=Universal Credit architect demands £20 cut is axed to stop 840,000 plunging into poverty |date=19 Sep 2021 |last1=Bloom |first1=Dan |work=The Mirror |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58814117 |title=Universal credit: Peer renews call for vote on benefit boost end |date=6 Oct 2021 |last1=O'Connor |first1=Mary |work=BBC News |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref>

===Legatum Prosperity Index===

The Legatum Institute publishes the annual [[Legatum Prosperity Index]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rankings|url=https://www.prosperity.com/rankings|access-date=2021-03-24|website=Legatum Prosperity Index 2020|language=en}}</ref> which measures prosperity across countries by applying a combination of material wealth and life satisfaction factors. The report has been in continuous publication since its launch in 2007 and has expanded its coverage from 50 countries to 167 in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=EST|first=Lucy Harley-McKeown On 11/15/20 at 7:01 PM|date=2020-11-15|title=Terrorism, health care holds U.S. down at 18th place in global prosperity index|url=https://www.newsweek.com/terrorism-health-care-u-s-18th-place-global-prosperity-index-1546679|access-date=2021-03-24|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/30/list-thinktanks-uk |title=List of thinktanks in the UK |date=30 September 2013 |work=The Guardian |access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://qz.com/292417/how-the-us-stacks-up-to-the-worlds-most-prosperous-country/ |title=How the US stacks up to the world's most prosperous country |last1=Kohli |first1=Sonali |date=6 November 2014 |publisher=Quartz |access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref>

=== Global People Movements programme ===
The Institute also runs the Global People Movements programme, which considers the largest movement of forcibly displaced people since the Second World War.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keepthefaith.co.uk/2018/02/19/the-legatum-institutes-global-people-movements-programme-is-developing-a-pioneering-method-of-analysing-the-trends-shaping-todays-migration-patterns/ |title=The Legatum Institutes Global People Movements programme is developing a pioneering method of analysing the trends shaping today's migration patterns |date=n.d. |publisher=Keep The Faith Magazine |accessdate=1 March 2018}}</ref>

===Historic programmes===
At the 2015 Africa Prosperity Summit, the Legatum Institute participated as a panellist during the session on "Stoking African Innovation: Ways and Means", which focused on addressing economic and social requirements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hdif-tz.org/2015/05/20/legatum-institute-2015-africa-prosperity-summit-promoting-wealth-and-wellbeing/ |title=LEGATUM INSTITUTE 2015 AFRICA PROSPERITY SUMMIT – PROMOTING WEALTH AND WELLBEING |publisher=Human Development Innovation Fund |accessdate=9 March 2018}}</ref> The same year, the Institute commissioned YouGov to investigate public attitudes towards capitalism, which highlighted a nearly universal belief that the biggest corporations in the world had become successful through cheating and at the expense of the environment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://social.shorthand.com/montie/3C6iES9yjf/what-the-world-thinks-of-capitalism |title=What the World Thinks of Capitalism |publisher=Shorthand Social |accessdate=25 April 2018}}</ref>

In 2017, the Legatum Institute commissioned a poll by Populus, estimating the views of the general British public on the Institute's political priorities.<ref name="li.com">{{cite web|title=Public opinion in the post-Brexit era: Economic attitudes in modern Britain|date=29 September 2017|url=https://www.li.com/activities/publications/public-opinion-in-the-post-brexit-era-economic-attitudes-in-modern-britain|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929103711/https://www.li.com/activities/publications/public-opinion-in-the-post-brexit-era-economic-attitudes-in-modern-britain|archivedate=29 September 2017|url-status=dead|publisher=Legatum institute|website=li.com}}</ref> The top priorities for respondents were: food and water; emergency services; universal healthcare; a good house; a decent well-paying job; and compulsory and free education. At the bottom were owning a car and cheap air travel.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/09/brexit-economy-broken-leaders-gdp-growth-labour|title=Brexit proved our economy is broken, but our leaders still have no clue how to fix it {{!}} Aditya Chakrabortty|last=Chakrabortty|first=Aditya|date=2019-01-09|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-12-03|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The British public:

* Favour public ownership of the UK's water, electricity, gas and railway sectors
* Believe taxes should rise to provide more funding for the NHS
* Support higher levels of regulation
* Favour wage caps for CEOs
* Favour worker representation at senior executive and board level
* Support the abolition of zero hour contracts
* Hold an unfavourable view of 'capitalism; as a concept, viewing it as 'greedy', 'selfish' and 'corrupt'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lif.blob.core.windows.net/lif/docs/default-source/default-library/1710-public-opinion-in-the-post-brexit-era-final.pdf|title=Public opinion in the post-Brexit era:Economic attitudes in modern Britain|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>

Writing in ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', Will Clothier used the poll to reflect that "capitalism has delivered for too few".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/no-wonder-nationalisation-is-popular-when-capitalism-has-delivered-for-too-few-202rh8mzh |title=No wonder nationalisation is popular when capitalism has delivered for too few |date=9 October 2017 |last1=Clothier |first1=Will |work=The Times |access-date=29 March 2018 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In July 2018, Legatum Institute released a report linking "anxiety, self-harm and other mental illness with high social media use among young people". The report argued that this is damaging families and young people's relationships with other adults.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hurst|first1=Greg|date=24 July 2018|title=Put down phones and talk to children, parents told|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/put-down-phones-and-talk-to-your-children-parents-told-cvqzphf2b|access-date=26 July 2018|work=The Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=25 July 2018|title=Jayne Dowle: Why my family is banned from using phones at mealtimes|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/jayne-dowle-why-my-family-is-banned-from-using-phones-at-mealtimes-and-that-also-applies-to-the-adults-1-9269813|access-date=18 December 2018|publisher=The Yorkshire Times}}</ref> More widely, Legatum Institute has advocated the use of parenting courses as a useful way of embedding parental skills and values to support children, but that the take up of these courses remains low due to stigma (people relating such courses incorrectly to 'troubled families' and 'poor parenting'), poor accessibility and lack of familiarity with the trainer's and facilitators.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chirinda|first1=Gerald|date=8 May 2018|title=What can be done to economically empower women in Africa?|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/05/women-africa-economic-empowerment/|access-date=25 July 2018|publisher=World Economic forum}}</ref>

===Other initiatives===
In October 2013, the Legatum Institute co-founded the Centre for Entrepreneurs (CFE) in partnership with entrepreneur [[Luke Johnson (Businessman)|Luke Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bqlive.co.uk/midlands/2013/10/07/news/entrepreneurs-unite-to-form-think-tank-12635/|title=Entrepreneurs unite to form think tank |publisher=BQLive |accessdate=10 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.coutts.com/insight-articles/news/2016/serial-entrepreneurs-will-be-key-to-the-success-of-uk-economy.html|title=Serial entrepreneurs will be key to the success of the UK economy |publisher=Coutts Bank |accessdate=10 April 2018}}</ref> Its intention is to research and communicate the positive impact of entrepreneurs on the economy and society. The CFE took ownership of [[Startup Britain]] in 2014 and has released research on the role universities should play in entrepreneurship<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newasianpost.com/cfe-highlights-role-universities-supporting-startups/|title=The CFE highlights the role universities should play in supporting startups |publisher=New Asian Post |accessdate=10 April 2018}}</ref> and the benefits of offering entrepreneurship schemes to pre-release prisoners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalenterprisenetwork.org/partner-news-turning-prisoners-into-entrepreneurs-would-save-1-4b-per-annum-claims-cfe-report/|title=Turning prisoners into entrepreneurs would save 1.4bn per annum, claims CFE report |publisher=National Enterprise Network |accessdate=10 April 2018}}</ref>

=== Role in Brexit ===
The think tank has been widely characterised as influential in the [[Brexit]] debate.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="STC" /> In July 2017, soon after the UK's EU referendum result, Legatum Institute formed the Special Trade Commission, headed by [[Shanker Singham]] (who backed remain in the run-up to the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|EU referendum]]) and included former [[New Zealand]] Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the [[World Trade Organization]] [[Crawford Falconer]] as a commissioner.<ref name="STC">{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexspence/steve-baker-brexit-meetings-shanker-singham|title=The Definitive Story Of How A Former Washington Lobbyist Became 'The Brexiteers' Brain' |author1=Alex Spence|date=22 May 2018|website=BuzzFeed|accessdate=24 May 2018|quote=Weeks after the referendum, he formed a 'special trade commission'}}</ref> This group provided reports looking at the UK's future trade negotiations. The Special Trade Commission's work was seen by some commentators as pushing for a "[[hard Brexit]]",<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/02/david-davis-oxford-seminar-hard-brexit-eu|title=David Davis went to seminar that drew up hard Brexit blueprint|date=2 October 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 September 2017}}</ref> although the Institute said their role was to support the [[Results of the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|referendum result]] and pointed out that the Institute took no public position in the lead-up to the EU referendum.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://leftfootforward.org/2018/02/why-weve-taken-down-an-article-on-christopher-chandler-and-the-legatum-institute/|title=Why we've taken down an article on Christopher Chandler and the Legatum Institute|date=17 February 2018|publisher=Left Foot Forward|access-date=24 May 2018}}</ref>

The Institute proposed using unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol the [[Republic of Ireland]] – [[Northern Ireland]] border issue post-Brexit.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-41232991|title=Brexit: Airships could patrol Irish border, says think tank|date=11 September 2017|publisher=BBC|access-date=14 September 2017}}</ref> The solution, which by the report's own admission faced issues around cost and bad weather, was criticised<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2017/09/18/legatums-solution-to-the-brexit-border-is-highly-problematic/|title=Legatum Institute's 'solution' for the Brexit border is highly problematic|date=18 September 2017|publisher=LSE Brexit|access-date=18 September 2017}}</ref> – the ''Daily Telegraph'' describing it as being "held up to ridicule".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/brexit-irish-border-explained-headache-not-going-away-time-soon/|title=Brexit and the Irish border explained: why the headache is not going away any time soon|last=Foster|first=Peter|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=14 February 2019|accessdate=14 February 2019}}</ref> The report proposed other potential measures including re-purposing the [[Special EU Programmes Body]] and creating a [[special economic zone]], an idea also put forward by the Republic of Ireland's main opposition party.<ref name="BBC" /> Crawford Falconer left the Special Trade Commission to become the Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser and Second Permanent Secretary for the [[Department for International Trade]] in June 2016.<ref name="Singham">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/crawford-falconer |title=Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser Crawford Falconer|publisher=Gov.uk|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> Shanker Singham left the institute in March 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/09151308-23b9-11e8-ae48-60d3531b7d11|title=Legatum Institute parts ways with pro-Brexit trade expert|date=9 March 2018|publisher=Financial Times |access-date=24 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="IEA">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/281988/iea-poaches-legatum-top-team |title=IEA poaches Legatums top team|date=9 March 2018|website=City A.M.|accessdate=24 May 2018}}</ref> to take his team to the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]] and [[Matthew Elliott (politics)|Matthew Elliott]] left in May 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.li.com/media/commentary/matthew-elliott-says-farewell-to-the-legatum-institute|title=Matthew Elliot says farewell to the Legatum Institute|date=9 March 2018|accessdate=24 May 2018}}</ref> In May 2018, the institute announced it would end its Brexit-related research.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/legatum-institute-calls-time-on-its-eu-research-jsvkpsblh|title=Legatum Institute calls time on its EU research|website=[[The Times]] |date=30 May 2018|access-date=10 Sep 2018}}</ref>

In June 2018 the UK’s Charity Commission said the Institute's 'Brexit Inflection Report' could be seen as seeking to achieve a "particular final outcome", something that would constitute political activity and an infringement of policy. The Institute was told to remove the report from its website.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-05-31|title=Pro-Brexit thinktank broke charity rules on politics, watchdog says|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/01/pro-brexit-thinktank-legatum-institute-broke-charity-rules-politics-watchdog|access-date=2021-01-24|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

==Events==
The Legatum Institute holds regular public events. In 2012 the [[Dalai Lama]] spoke at an event called "ethics for a more prosperous world".<ref>{{cite web|title=His Holiness the Dalai Lama Participates in a Symposium - Ethics for a More Prosperous World|url=https://www.dalailama.com/news/2012/his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-participates-in-a-symposium-ethics-for-a-more-prosperous-world/amp|website=dalailama.com|accessdate=5 April 2018|date=24 October 2012}}</ref> In 2015, they held an event which looked at the ownership and management of public assets.<ref>{{cite web|title=Legatum Institute Event:" Sweating our assets: Yield not ownership is the answer"|url=https://www.cobdencentre.org/2015/02/legatum-institute-event-sweating-our-assets-yield-not-ownership-is-the-solution/|website=Cobden Centre|accessdate=5 April 2018|date=18 February 2015}}</ref> In 2018 they gathered thinkers from different perspectives and let them argue under the [[Chatham House Rule]] to promote debate.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Juliet Samuel|title=Teach authoritarian students to debate and 'no platforming' will be no more|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/19/teach-authoritarian-students-debate-no-platforming-will-no/|website=Telegraph|accessdate=5 April 2018|date=19 January 2018}}</ref>

==Fellows==
The following people are current [[Fellow]]s at the Legatum Institute:<ref>{{cite web|title=Legatum Fellows|url=https://li.com/about/legatum-fellows|website=Legatum Institute}}</ref>

*[[David Abulafia]]
*[[Nicholas Crafts]]
*[[Maurice Glasman]]
*[[Oliver Letwin]]
*[[Simon Mayall]]
*[[Tim Montgomerie]]

Previous Fellows have included [[Peter Pomerantsev]], [[Gisela Stuart]] and [[Matthew Elliott (political strategist)|Matthew Elliott]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Think tanks based in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Educational charities based in the United Kingdom]]

Legatum Institute - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 17:52, 28 August 2023