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The Charity Commission has closed its case into the Legatum Institute Foundation, concluding that the Institute operates independently and has systems in place which are designed to ensure that its research and publications show balance and neutrality.

The Commission’s report also concluded that the Institute upholds its educational objects by engaging with individuals from across the political spectrum, both through its programme of events and its research, and has sought to ensure a diverse range of views in its activities. 

The focus of the Commission’s questions was a report published by the Institute in November 2017, entitled Brexit Inflection Point: The Pathway to Prosperity. In examining this report, the Commission concluded that research into the framework of the Brexit negotiations did fall within the Institute’s remit as an educational charity, and therefore was a legitimate area of research for the Institute to examine. 

The Commission’s concluded that due to the current political sensitivities relating to the issue of Brexit and UK trade policy, this particular report crossed a line and “may be seen as promoting a political view”. As a result the Commission requested that the report be removed from the Institute’s website.

Commenting on the Commission’s Case Report, the Institute’s Chair of Trustees, Alan McCormick said:

“We are pleased that the Commission has concluded its review of the Legatum Institute. As a board, the trustees take very seriously the Institute’s responsibility to educate the general public about how individuals, communities and nations can create the pathways from poverty to prosperity.

“Over the past five months we have worked closely with the Commission, pro-actively reporting relevant information and answering all questions posed to us. We are pleased to see the official recognition on the part of the Commission that the Institute operates independently and that we have systems in place, which are designed to ensure balance and neutrality in our research and educational work.

“We acknowledge the Commission’s conclusion that the Brexit Inflection report crossed a line – from the Institute’s perspective, this was wholly unintentional. In addition, we understand, and will fulfil, the Commission’s request to remove the report from our website. 

By closing the case, the Commission has affirmed the high standards of the Legatum Institute and cleared the way for it to get on with its mission.”

You can read the Commission's case report in full here.