Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain

Top Menu

  • About US
  • Join US
  • Videos
  • Infographics
  • Comment
  • Question and Answer
  • Watch us Live

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Viewpoint
  • Islamic Culture
  • Da’wah
  • Media
  • People
    • Sheikh Taqiuddin an-Nabahani (Founder)
    • Sheikh Abdul Qadeem Zallum (Successor)
    • Sheikh Ata Abu Rashta (Ameer)
    • Abdul Wahid
    • Abu Yusuf
    • Jamal Harwood
    • Taji Mustafa
  • Books
  • Youth
  • Covid-19
  • About US
  • Join US
  • Videos
  • Infographics
  • Comment
  • Question and Answer
  • Watch us Live

logo

Header Banner

Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain

  • Home
  • Viewpoint
    • Making Sense of Pakistan

      April 16, 2022
      0
    • How Should We View the War in Ukraine?

      March 30, 2022
      0
    • The India Hijab Issue from an Islamic Perspective

      March 24, 2022
      0
    • DEEP DIVE: The Weaponisation and Politicisation of British Citizenship Laws

      March 12, 2022
      0
    • Our Role in the Ukraine war is to Expose the Propaganda

      March 2, 2022
      0
    • Muslims Should Rejoice Over the Islamic Ruling System

      January 21, 2022
      0
    • Another Warmonger Honoured for Serving the British Elite

      January 2, 2022
      0
    • The Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh Victory Day (Bijoy Dibos): a cause for ...

      December 13, 2021
      0
    • Playing Politics with the Uygher Muslims

      December 2, 2021
      0
  • Islamic Culture
    • Reading Quran

      The story of the man who was told to “Enter Paradise” and ...

      January 24, 2022
      0
    • Significance of Rabi’ul-Awwal

      October 10, 2021
      0
    • Virtues of the Month of Muharram

      August 10, 2021
      0
    • The significance of first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

      July 10, 2021
      0
    • The Honour of the Prophets

      April 30, 2021
      0
    • A to Z of Ramadan

      April 19, 2021
      0
    • The Dawah to Allah (swt)

      December 29, 2020
      0
    • Miracle of the Quran

      Q & A - Compilation of The Holy Quran During the Reign ...

      December 27, 2020
      0
    • Imam Bukhari: A Role Model for the ‘Ulema and Da’wah Carriers to ...

      November 17, 2020
      0
  • Da’wah
    • Public Demonstration - Independence Not Intervention

      April 22, 2022
      0
    • VIDEO : [LIVESTREAMED] Pakistan in Crisis: The Players, Politics, and People

      April 20, 2022
      0
    • Ramadan Message: The World Needs Islam - We Must Work for the ...

      April 1, 2022
      0
    • The India Hijab Issue from an Islamic Perspective

      March 24, 2022
      0
    • Ramadhan event: Kyiv to Kabul: The World Needs Islam

      March 20, 2022
      0
    • Obituary of a Dawah Carrier Dr. Youssef Haj Youssef

      December 30, 2021
      0
    • Open Letter to Imams and Muslim Leaders

      September 28, 2021
      0
    • Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain Sends Delegation to Chinese Embassy Condemning the Inhumane Treatment ...

      June 30, 2021
      0
    • Jahangir Raja: Obituary of a Da’wah Carrier

      June 28, 2021
      0
  • Media
  • People
    • Sheikh Taqiuddin an-Nabahani (Founder)
    • Sheikh Abdul Qadeem Zallum (Successor)
    • Sheikh Ata Abu Rashta (Ameer)
    • Abdul Wahid
    • Abu Yusuf
    • Jamal Harwood
    • Taji Mustafa
  • Books
  • Youth
  • Covid-19
Viewpoint
Home›Viewpoint›The Mixing of Money and Politics is the real Problem

The Mixing of Money and Politics is the real Problem

By Editor
September 3, 2018
2160
0
Share:

Over the last few weeks the position of money and influence in politics has come under scrutiny. The Charity Commission announced its investigation into the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). It has led many to question the validity and position of democracy in the UK today. Is it right for politicians to attack minority groups for their own political leverage? Or indeed for supposedly independent think tanks like the IEA to be accused by some of influencing politics?

Any sane person would answer that it is not right for politics to be influenced by seeking office or attempting to influence others with money.

The IEA has been accused of offering potential donors access to ministers in the UK government as it attempts to raise money for research that would support free trade deals that hardlined Brexiters’ demand [1]. Amongst  the names thrown around are high profile figures such as Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, David Davis and Liam Fox [2]. As well as potential access to donors, the IEA chief Mark Littlewood suggest that the donors could shape large parts of the research into free trade deals and Brexit.

Visitors from ‘E Foundation’ for Oklahoma – a US based think tank – met the then Brexit minister Steve Baker in May 2018. The think tank, which serves the interests of American farmers, promised to help raise money for the IEA. American farmers are keen that any post Brexit deal will include the lifting of restrictions on some US products [3].

At the moment the sale of beef from the US, which has been treated with growth hormone and also chlorine-washed chicken, is currently banned in the UK. However, favourable research carried out by the IEA could have a huge influence on the future of such bans. Add this to the ministerial access and it is clear to see that the donations have strings attached, strings which the IEA seems in no rush to cut.

In fact, the man leading the IEA’s trade unit is Shanker Singham – someone who advocates the dropping of the EU’s precautionary principles which underpins much of the legislation around food and environmental safety [4].

The CEO of E Foundation for Oklahoma Michael Carnuccio, suggested to undercover reporters that his strategy to get money out of potential IEA donors was Singham’s direct political access and influence.

Camuccio said “If they don’t know them, then we just explain they’re the free market organisation that is the private sector trade advisor right now through working in that capacity with Singham, so they have the access, they have the influence.”

Further speaking of Singham, “I’m telling you, that dude has access” [4].

Speaking about the issue Shadow Cabinet minister Jon Trickett said:

“When big money uses underhanded ways to influence political decisions, it’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that democracy is being severely undermined.”

The real concern should be that no matter how repugnant these things are, they have become a part of political life all across the globe. Democracy only makes this worse and not better. In the days of old in England, the king would rule his dominion with an iron fist, it was clear who was in charge and that he would do anything to keep his position safe. This never stopped those who wished for power and influence to attempt to undermine and ultimately overthrow the king, the disease in-fact would be most rampant within the king’s inner circles. There is something about power that drives some men insane in their quest to acquire it, with their moral compasses (if they had any to begin with) becoming corrupted.

The advent of modern day democracy in the form today, on the face of it, allows power to be transferred to the people. In reality it just opened a circus of influencing the ruling elite to a wider audience.

By putting the label of lobbying onto what essentially is the buying of votes, one cannot hide the fact that where there is politics, money seems to be lurking in the shadows. Why else would it be that the IEA, an organisation registered as a charity, is now coming under scrutiny for the influence it can put on those in decision-making positions vis-à-vis Brexit?

The influence of money in American politics has long been something the world has scoffed at, with many multinational companies being often accused of funding both candidates to the tune of millions in order to assure they will have the ear of the President once elected. In the Muslim world, the likes of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari in Pakistan have long been accused and convicted of corruption and usurping government funds.

Some would say the latter example of Pakistan shows a banana republic and not a functioning democracy, however when both these examples, and that of the IEA, are examined together there is a common thread of those with money attempting and the most part succeeding in influencing decision making democracies.

That basic instinct for power and money that every human being possesses is simply left unchecked.

Despite their abundance of regulatory committees and regulations put in place by Parliament, political lobbying and dinner dates with MPs costing thousands of pounds are still the norm in Whitehall. Once MPs and cabinet members leave office they quickly find non-executive directorships at commercial businesses. Not because they have an unrivalled ability to change the fortunes of companies around, but simply for their contacts in positions of power.

None of this can be stopped via returning to a purer form of democracy, free of corporate meddling like many would have us believe. In reality, those in position of power should themselves be free of being influenced by others. In the privacy of office any ruler can be open to corruption which can go undetected by the checks and balances the system has put in place, whether that be democratic or Islamic. The only thing that stops the vultures circling, is a political system and politicians who are answerable to something other than those who would corrupt them.


[1] Rightwing UK thinktank ‘offered ministerial access’ to potential US donors [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/29/rightwing-thinktank-ministerial-access-potential-us-donors-insitute-of-economic-affairs-brexit]

[2] Mark Littlewood: ‘We do not want for connections … He’s able to get into ministers.’ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=32&v=xyiX5K6W2mc]

[3] A leading think tank brokered access to ministers for US donors looking to influence Brexit [https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2018/07/29/iea-hard-brexit-think-tank-access-ministers/]

[4] How the IEA teamed up with US donors to push for environmental deregulation post-Brexit [https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2018/07/30/iea-brexit-shanker-singham-mark-littlewood-us-donors/]

 

 

TagsBoris JohnsonBrexitCapitalismDemocracyIEAlobbyingMichael Gove
Previous Article

Saudis Boast about Hajj while Covering up ...

Next Article

UN Reports Reveal the Truth of the ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • CommentPakistan

    The Capitalist Economy is Drowning Pakistan in Debt

    July 2, 2018
    By Editor
  • Press Releases

    Real Change Does Not Come Through the Ballot Box

    December 11, 2019
    By Yahya Nisbet
  • Viewpoint

    Students learn hypocrisy of democracy

    December 10, 2010
    By Editor
  • Comment

    For Real Change, We Must Work for Khilafah (Caliphate) on the Method of Prophethood with Hizb ut-Tahrir

    June 27, 2018
    By Editor
  • Viewpoint

    Democracy is the best political system money can buy

    March 30, 2012
    By Editor
  • Viewpoint

    By Sentencing Dr Aafia to 86 years the US has shown the Cruelty, Injustice and Inhumanity of its ‘Freedom and ...

    September 23, 2010
    By Editor

Liberate Al Aqsa

Join US on Telegram

Podcast

Latest Posts

Press Releases

Protest in London Says No To More Democracy, Yes to the Khilafah

Members of Hizb ut Tahrir in Britain, alongside supporters from the Muslim community, gathered on Saturday 7th May 2022 at the Pakistan High Commission in London to protest against US ...
  • Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain to Protest American Interference in Pakistan’s Politics

    By Yahya Nisbet
    May 1, 2022
  • Public Demonstration – Independence Not Intervention

    By Editor
    April 22, 2022
  • VIDEO : [LIVESTREAMED] Pakistan in Crisis: The Players, Politics, and People

    By Editor
    April 20, 2022
  • The Geopolitics of Badr

    By Editor
    April 17, 2022
  • Making Sense of Pakistan

    By Editor
    April 16, 2022
  • Muslims in Britain Should Speak Out Against the Pakistani Leadership’s Surrender of Kashmir

    By Yahya Nisbet
    April 15, 2022
  • Muslims in Britain should support the call for the Khilafah in Pakistan

    By Yahya Nisbet
    April 12, 2022
  • Press Centre