Sir James Spooner (Deceased)

Credentials

• Spooner was educated at West Downs School during the Tindall Era (1922 – 1954).¹“Old West Downs Society – Memories of the Tindall Era, 1922-1954,” WestDowns.com. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mR6a6

Background

Sir James Spooner was an honorary treasurer and trustee of the UK think tank the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), a group founded by climate science denier Nigel Lawson with the purpose of combating what Lawson has described as “extremely damaging and harmful policies” designed to mitigate climate change.²“Sir James Spooner (1932-2019),” Global Warming Policy Forum. Archived March 5, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/TzUK0 ³“Ed Miliband clashes with Lord Lawson on global warming,” BBC News, December 6, 2009. Archived August 17, 2015.

Spooner was also previously chairman of Barclays Bank and Sainsbury’s supermarket. He was also once the chairman of the Royal Opera and a variety of other groups.⁴“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH ⁵“Royal Opera board offer to resign,” BBC News, December 4, 1997. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/t2Wx2

Stance on Climate Change

The Global Warming Policy Foundation, of which Spooner was a trustee, has released reports contending that policies to mitigate climate change are “based on climate models that completely failed to predict the lack of warming for the past two decades” and that “Carbon dioxide has been mercilessly demonized as ‘carbon pollution’, when in fact it is a benefit to the planet.”⁶Andrew Montford. “Unintended Consequences of Climate Change Policy,” Global Warming Policy Foundation, January 2015. Archived August 17, 2015.

Key Quotes

Speaking to the Guardian about donating to the GWPF, Spooner said:⁷Leo Hickman. “Global Warming Policy Foundation donor funding levels revealed,” The Guardian, January 20, 2011. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mTREc

“I’m a very small contributor – a four-figure number at the most.” He added that the foundation received “no money from companies whatsoever, nor from anybody anywhere near the energy industry in its broadest sense. The foundation is funded by individuals, foundations and trusts, but their identity is confidential.”

Key Deeds

January 2011

The Guardian revealed Sir James Spooner as a GWPF funder following the think tank publishing its annual accounts listing Spooner as the honorary treasurer.⁸Leo Hickman. “Global Warming Policy Foundation donor funding levels revealed,” The Guardian, January 20, 2011. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mTREc

Affiliations

• Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) — Former honorary treasurer and trustee. Appointed 2012 and resigned 2015.⁹“Sir James Spooner (1932-2019),” Global Warming Policy Forum. Archived March 5, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/TzUK0 ¹⁰“THE GLOBAL WARMING POLICY FOUNDATION: Company number 06962749,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/uHVCW ¹¹“Board of Trustees,” The Global Warming Policy Foundation. Archived July 1, 2014. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/c8eCa
• Open Europe — Formerly listed as a supporter.¹²“Supporters,” OpenEurope. Archived March 31, 2010. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/9TSNp

Other Affiliations

• Glanmoor Investments — Director.¹³“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Royal Opera — Former chairman. Resigned as director in December 1997.¹⁴“Royal Opera board offer to resign,” BBC News, December 4, 1997. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/t2Wx2
• Pytchley House Estate — Director.¹⁵“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Merger Investments — Former director. Appointed 1995, resigned 2010.¹⁶“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Cleveland Square Properties — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 2010.¹⁷“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Glover Agency — Former director. Appointed 2002, resigned 2010.¹⁸“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Goldsmiths’ College Estates — Former director. Appointed 1993, resigned 2009.¹⁹“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Goldsmiths’ College Developments — Former director. Appointed 2000, resigned 2009.²⁰“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Ram Development Company — Former director. Appointed 2002, resigned 2008.²¹“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• St. Andrew’s Healthcare — Former director. Appointed 2004, resigned 2007.²²“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• The Beef and Liberty Company — Former director. Appointed 2005, resigned 2007.²³“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music — Former director. Appointed 2003, resigned 2006.²⁴“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Wonderful Beast — Former director. Appointed 1997, resigned 2004.²⁵“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• John Swire & Sons — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 2003.²⁶“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Minorplanet Systems — Former director. Appointed 1997, resigned 2002.²⁷“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Hermes Fund Managers — Former director. Appointed 1995, resigned 1998.²⁸“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Britel Fund Nominees — Former director. Appointed 1992, resigned 1998.²⁹“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Britel Fund Trustees — Former director Appointed 1992, resigned 1998.³⁰“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Folkenstone Race Course — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 1998.³¹“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Roh Pension Trustee — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 1998.³²“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Roh Holdings — Former director. Appointed 1992, resigned 1997.³³“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Roh Management — Former director. Appointed 1992, resigned 1997.³⁴“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Morgan Advanced Materials — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 1997.³⁵“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Roh Developments — Former director. Appointed 1991, resigned 1997.³⁶“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Hemming Group — Former director Appointed 1993, resigned 1996.³⁷“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• J Sainsbury — Former director. Appointed prior to 1992. Resigned 1994.³⁸“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• J Sainsbury Common Investment Fund — Former director. Appointed 1993, resigned 1994.³⁹“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Barclays Bank and Barclays PLC — Former director. Appointed prior to 1992, resigned 1994.⁴⁰“James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• Longford Trust — Patron.⁴¹Homepage, The Longford Trust. Archived March 4, 2010. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nvjMU

Social Media

Sir James Spooner does not appear to be active on social media.

Publications

Sir James Spooner does not appear to have published any articles in major news outlets.

Other Resources

• “Sir James Spooner,” Sourcewatch.

Resources

• 1
  “Old West Downs Society – Memories of the Tindall Era, 1922-1954,” WestDowns.com. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mR6a6
• 2
  “Sir James Spooner (1932-2019),” Global Warming Policy Forum. Archived March 5, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/TzUK0
• 3
  “Ed Miliband clashes with Lord Lawson on global warming,” BBC News, December 6, 2009. Archived August 17, 2015.
• 4
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 5
  “Royal Opera board offer to resign,” BBC News, December 4, 1997. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/t2Wx2
• 6
  Andrew Montford. “Unintended Consequences of Climate Change Policy,” Global Warming Policy Foundation, January 2015. Archived August 17, 2015.
• 7
  Leo Hickman. “Global Warming Policy Foundation donor funding levels revealed,” The Guardian, January 20, 2011. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mTREc
• 8
  Leo Hickman. “Global Warming Policy Foundation donor funding levels revealed,” The Guardian, January 20, 2011. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mTREc
• 9
  “Sir James Spooner (1932-2019),” Global Warming Policy Forum. Archived March 5, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/TzUK0
• 10
  “THE GLOBAL WARMING POLICY FOUNDATION: Company number 06962749,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/uHVCW
• 11
  “Board of Trustees,” The Global Warming Policy Foundation. Archived July 1, 2014. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/c8eCa
• 12
  “Supporters,” OpenEurope. Archived March 31, 2010. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/9TSNp
• 13
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 14
  “Royal Opera board offer to resign,” BBC News, December 4, 1997. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/t2Wx2
• 15
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 16
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 17
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 18
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 19
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 20
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 21
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 22
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 23
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 24
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 25
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 26
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 27
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 28
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 29
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 30
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 31
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 32
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 33
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 34
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 35
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 36
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 37
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 38
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 39
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 40
  “James Douglas SPOONER,” Companies House. Archived December 14, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nieFH
• 41
  Homepage, The Longford Trust. Archived March 4, 2010. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nvjMU