Stonewall’s £1.25m from the taxpayer

It’s not good value, says Truss, but Foreign Office still hands over £765,000

THe Foreign Office is still ploughing hundreds of thousands a year into Stonewall – even though Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has called on ministers to distance themselves from the controversial charity.

Accounts show that public bodies gave £1.25 million in taxpayer-funded grants over 18 months – a large increase on the amount handed over in the previous year.

A total of five public organisations gave money to the charity, making up more than half of the grants Stonewall received.

By far the biggest funder was the Foreign Office, which gave £765,061 over the 18 months to March 2021, compared to just £145,075 in the one-year period to the end of September 2019.

The Welsh Government gave grants of £236,529 to Stonewall over the 18-month period – up from £157,609 in the previous one-year period.

This was money Stonewall received over and above amounts given in public sector subscriptions to the controversial Diversity Champions scheme.

Miss Truss, who is also equalities minister, has urged ministers to withdraw from this scheme over concerns it is not value for money. Critics say companies who sign up are advised to rewrite their policies to reflect the charity’s agenda on trans rights.

Hundreds of companies and public bodies have joined the scheme to receive advice on how to create an inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers.

The controversial scheme counts more than 200 government departments and public bodies among its 900 members, which pay for guidance on issues such as pronouns and gender-neutral spaces.

In May, Stonewall chief executive Nancy Kelley courted controversy when she claimed ‘gender critical’ beliefs – the belief a person’s biological sex cannot be changed – were akin to anti-Semitism.

Duncan Simpson, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Taxpayers are fed up with public bodies giving ever more grants to controversial campaigners.

‘After years of handing over millions, some officials seem determined to prop up pressure groups like Stonewall with taxpayers’ cash, despite ministers urging against it. Ministers must put a stop to these grants and schemes immediately.’

In total, Stonewall received £1,249,363 in grants from taxpayer-funded bodies in the 18 months to March 2021. This is up 67 per cent on the £748,295 it received in 2018/19.

The Foreign Office said it ‘provides funding to Stonewall to defend the human rights of LGBT+ people around the world, with programmes that tackle discrimination and hate crime running across Asia, Africa, eastern europe and Latin America’.

‘Controversial campaigners’