Investigations into the funding for Stonewall from local authorities

[ChristinaXYZ]

Includes lists of authorities still members, also police and NHS trusts

Concludes: "it does seem extraordinary that any payment of public funds to Stonewall should remain legal. Public sector bodies should not make payments from taxpayer funds to lobbying organisations, who in turn use that funding to lobby public sector bodies. The rules on this should be tightened."

www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/07/leading-conservative-councils-are-withdrawing-their-support-for-stonewall.html

It's even worse in Scotland where the Scottish government will not provide funding to groups, or even meet with them, unless they are 'inclusive' which means they have adopted Stonewall's policies.

Thanks for sharing. I can see some of my areas on that list I will forward this article to them.

Everyone talks about the money paid to SW in terms of cash but the hours spent on being a member are never quantified, so we don't know the real cost (expect in terms of women's rights)

It’s positive to hear that LAs are rethinking their stance on funding lobby groups who distort the services understanding of the equality act

Yes.

The following councils are currently still funding Stonewall and have not given any clear indication they will stop doing so:

How accurate is that list? The first council on their list is Anglesey. This is the response they gave to a FOI request last month:

I am advised that for the purpose of Section 1 FOIA 2000, we hold no information relevant to your request. This Council has not had any contacts with Stonewall during the timeframe of your request.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/details_of_your_contacts_with_st_15#incoming-1812700

It's great that this is happening with people becoming increasingly aware of the fact that Stonewall is a political lobby group. It has no business arguing against women's rights and child safeguarding from a privileged position of being inside these organisations.

More sunlight.

I am advised that for the purpose of Section 1 FOIA 2000, we hold no information relevant to your request. This Council has not had any contacts with Stonewall during the timeframe of your request.

The response could be disingenuous. FOI's are very specific so they can use the timeframe, when in actual fact they have had contact, just not in the way of the request or in the date of the request

Agreed highame. It's also possibly a case of left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. There are usually a number of people / departments involved - just look at the range of civil service departments all spending money on Stonewall.

@highame

I am advised that for the purpose of Section 1 FOIA 2000, we hold no information relevant to your request. This Council has not had any contacts with Stonewall during the timeframe of your request.

The response could be disingenuous. FOI's are very specific so they can use the timeframe, when in actual fact they have had contact, just not in the way of the request or in the date of the request

Yes, but they claim not to have had any contact with Stonewall in 2019 or 2020, and that they did not pay them any money in 2019-2020.

It's possible that they only joined in 2021, but there is no mention of Stonewall on the Anglesey County Council website either.

Thank you. Just written to my MP and local PCC about this and sent the link. What a fucking waste of precious money.