Charity set up by Liam Fox and Adam Werrity shuts down 3

Governance | Kirsty Weakley | 10 Oct 2011

A charity founded by Conservative MP Liam Fox and run by Adam Werrity, who are currently at the centre of a political storm about the extent of Werrity’s involvement with the Ministry of Defence, has been removed from the Charity Commission’s register.

Werrity was the only employee of UK charity the Atlantic Bridge Education and Research Scheme which Fox set up in 2003 and was a trustee of until May 2010. Former PM Margaret Thatcher was patron of the organisation which conducted research into the ‘special relationship’ between the UK and USA.

In 2009 a member of the public complained that the charity appeared to be a party political organisation so the Commission launched an investigation into the charity and published its report in July 2010. The investigation was a regulatory compliance case but stopped short of a statutotry inquiry under the Charities Act 1993.

The investigaton concluded that: “The educational objects of the charity have not been advanced by its activities because these activities promote a particular point of view which is not uncontroversial.”

The charity was ordered to undertake a review of its activities and a Charity Commission spokeswoman confirmed that last month the trustees of the charity informed the Commission of their decision to wind up the charity. "They considered that it could no longer continue to operate.”

She added: “On 23 September 2011 a declaration was made on behalf of the trustees that the charity had been wound up having settled all outstanding liabilities and transferring any remaining charitable funds to another registered charity with compatible charitable objects.”

This morning the Prime Minister was due to receive an interim report on the Defence Secretary’s relationship with Werrity, who had visited the Ministry several times and sat in on meetings.

Directory: Charity Commission

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Webobservor
11 Oct 2011

Such objects in any part of the world are exclusively charitable in accordance with the laws of england and wales. The furtherance of public education on both sides of the atlantic, in areas of common interest, focusing, particularly but not exclusively on free trade, economics, health and science. Research into relations between europe and north america and their implications for the international community, with the aim to raise cultural awareness and improve links.

[Reply]

Webobserver
11 Oct 2011

On the basis of what I have read about this charity and as a director/trustee of a charity, the people involved with signing off accounts or just voting for them with full knowledge of the activities or the initial charity application with full knowledge of the future activities would be IMO guilty of fraud on the tax payer.

[Reply]

NMac
10 Oct 2011

Most people, if they ran a bogus charity, would be prosecuted. Why weren't these two reprobates?

[Reply]

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