Centre for Welsh Studies

The Centre for Welsh Studies is a pro-Brexit Welsh think-tank, which advocates "a positive vision for Wales outside the European Union".[1] The group is based in Cardiff.[2]

Board of Advisors

The advisory board is made up of UKIP, Conservative and Independent political figures.[1] Conservative Members of Parliament on the board include: David Jones, deputy chairman of the European Research Group; James Davies and Sarah Atherton. Patrick Minford, professor at Cardiff University, is also on the board.[3]

Co-directors

Its co-directors, Llyr Powell and Matthew MacKinnon come from UKIP and Conservative backgrounds respectively.[1] MacKinnon studied politics and business at university and became a Eurosceptic there, later going on to work in the European Parliament. He used to be Vote Leave's regional director for Wales, and said that is "greatest hope is for the global Britain brand".[4]

MacKinnon was involved in the setup of Eco Central, which listed the Centre for Welsh Studies' address on its website.[3]

Funding
See also: Dark money

The group has been described by Wired as "notoriously cagey about its finances".[5] It is a partner of, and has "received several thousand pounds" from, Atlas Network (a funder of right-libertarian and free-market groups).[6] Despite apparently owing more to its creditors than it received in income in 2020 (£1,164 in assets, compared to the £1,208 owed to creditors as of 31 January), the organisation has the wherewithal to upgrade its offices and launch hundreds of pounds' worth of Facebook advertisements.[7]

Lockdown criticism

The group has been critical of the Welsh government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with MacKinnon arguing that the government response was made under pressure and has led to great economic damage.[2][8] Welsh Conservative politician Jonathan Morgan has written a piece for the Centre's website regarding the "new normal" as a result of the pandemic.[9]

References
  1. Masters, Adrian (16 February 2017). "First 'openly Brexit' Welsh think tank launches". ITV News. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  2. Allen-Mills, Tony (13 June 2020). "Early contact-tracing in Welsh county credited with keeping coronavirus infection rate low". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 January 2021. The Welsh government has come under increasing pressure to follow England’s example in easing lockdown restrictions. “There is serious concern about the impact on the Welsh economy,” said Matthew MacKinnon, director of the Centre for Welsh Studies in Cardiff.
  3. Dunne, Daisy (13 November 2020). "Revealed: The social media campaign spending thousands to promote climate denial online set up by chair of pro-Brexit think tank". The Independent. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. Mosalski, Ruth (31 January 2020). "We asked people who voted Leave for their greatest hope for the future". WalesOnline. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  5. Volpicelli, Gian (27 February 2019). "Talk of a second Brexit referendum has created a surge in sketchy Facebook ads". Wired UK. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  6. Shipton, Martin (29 November 2020). "Welsh think tank funded by US group that promotes right wing ideology". WalesOnline. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  7. "Fresh questions around funding of right-wing think tank Centre for Welsh Studies". Nation.Cymru. 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  8. MacKinnon, Matthew (13 May 2020). "Wales' preening leader is leaving us in the dark of coronavirus lockdown". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. Morgan, Jonathan (27 May 2020). "What should the "new normal" be?". Centre for Welsh Studies. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
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