What’s in a word?
Nothing, it seems, if you are Richard Murphy. Always looking to attack those of us who believe in a smaller state and lower taxes, Murphy sent these tweets which purport to show that the think tank The Adam Smith Institute is government funded:
Why is the right wing fundamentalist think tank the Adam Smith Institute 70% funded by UK government funds? ht.ly/dOYYw
— Richard Murphy (@RichardJMurphy) September 19, 2012
The Adam Smith Institute is 70% government funded and pays its director £1.3 million a year. Why?ht.ly/dOZ5L
— Richard Murphy (@RichardJMurphy) September 19, 2012
Which, to anyone who knows even a little about the ASI, seems odd… especially given that they don’t disclose where their money comes from.
If we read the (Gruniad) article to which Ritchie links we find this (my emphasis):
Attention has focused on the activities of Adam Smith International (ASI), a “leading international advisory firm” that is dedicated to promoting the “benefits of competition, good government and individual liberty”. Over 70% of ASI’s income now comes from the Department for International Development. The ASI’s managing director, William Morrison, received £1.3m in total pay and dividends in 2010.
Would it be libel to accuse him of deliberately lying to his followers?