Part 1. Toby Young’s disclosed interests and those undisclosed, by audience.
Conclusive evidence that Toby Young fails to be transparent.
Part 1 is the beginning of an extensive report focussing on Toby Young, the interests he does disclose to each of his audiences, and those that he does not.
A review of the interests that Toby Young discloses on his various platforms is presented below, for further analysis for the completeness of these declarations.
The Spectator Website.
Toby Young’s biography on The Spectator website provides the following information (https://thespectator.com/author/toby-young/). Throughout, the underlined text is the weblink to the source of the indented quote. Links provided by the source website are copied with the text.
Toby Young is the co-author of What Every Parent Needs to Know and the co-founder of several free schools. In addition to being an associate editor of The Spectator, he is an associate editor of Quillette. Follow him on Twitter @toadmeister
Toby Young discloses on the Spectator website that he is associate editor of The Spectator and Quillette, and is a co-founder of several free schools, without naming the organisation.
The Spectator biography does not mention another role that Toby Young is publicly known for, which is being the founder of The Free Speech Union.
The Free Speech Union Website.
His biography on The Free Speech Union website, states (https://freespeechunion.org/about/).:
Toby Young is a British journalist and former Director of the New Schools Network, a free schools charity. In addition to being the founder and General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, he is an associate editor of The Spectator and the editor of the Daily Sceptic. His best known book is How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.
The Free Speech Union biography states he is a journalist and former Director of the New Schools Network, a free schools charity. It would seem logical to conclude that this is the name of the “free schools” disclosed on The Spectator Website. He also discloses his role at The Spectator and editorship of the Daily Sceptic and he does not disclose Quillette.
Daily Sceptic Website.
Toby Young’s biography on the Daily Sceptic website, states (https://dailysceptic.org/about/):
Toby Young is the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Sceptic. He is the author of several books, including How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, and co-founded the Knowledge Schools Trust. In addition to being Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Sceptic, he is the General Secretary of the Free Speech Union and an Associate Editor of the Spectator, where he has written a weekly column for more than 20 years. In 2021 he won the Contrarian Prize. His latest venture is a Substack newsletter about following QPR.
The Daily Sceptic is published by a company called Skeptics Ltd, registered at 1st Floor, 48 Chancery Lane Holborn, London, England, WC2A 1JF.
On the Daily Sceptic website Toby Young discloses his roles at the Daily Sceptic, Free Speech Union, and The Spectator. He does not disclose he is a former director of the New Schools Network but does disclose co-founding Knowledge Schools Trust, which may or may not be the same entity, with a changed name.
The legally required detail of ownership of the Daily Sceptic website informs that the “Daily Sceptic is published by a company called Skeptics Ltd, registered at 1st Floor, 48 Chancery Lane Holborn, London, England, WC2A 1JF.”
Knowledge Schools Trust Register of Interests.
Toby Young does not have a biography available on the Knowledge Schools Trust website. However, he is included in the Trustees’ Register of Interest (https://www.knowledgeschoolstrust.org/Publication-of-Directors-Details-and-the-Register-/), which states:
KNOWLEDGE SCHOOLS TRUST REGISTER OF BUSINESS & PECUNIARY INTERESTS Declarations include all relevant business and pecuniary (monetary) interests such as directorships, shareholdings and other appointments of influence within a business or other organisation. This includes governance roles at other educational institutions. They include interests of related persons such as a parent, spouse, child, cohabitee and business partner where influence could be exerted by that person over a governor or a member of staff (as at March 2024)
Name: Toby Young
Date of appointment: 14/1/2011
Term of Office: N/A
Method of appointment: Member
Name of Business: Knowledge Schools Foundation Trust
Nature of Business: Charity
Nature of Interest: Trustee January
Date Interest Registered 2017
Date of cessation: Current.
Toby Young’s only disclosure in the Knowledge Schools Trust’s register is that he is a trustee of another charity, The Knowledge Schools Foundation Trust. This is not disclosed on any of the websites of his other interests.
Summary 1 of Missing Declarations in Toby Young's Biographies and Registers
Across the different platforms, Toby Young's biographies fail to consistently disclose all his significant roles and associations. Specifically, the missing declarations are:
The Spectator Website Biography Toby Young fails to declare:
Founder of The Free Speech Union
Editor of the Daily Sceptic, published by Skeptics Ltd
Co-founder of Knowledge Schools Trust
Trustee of Knowledge Schools Foundation Trust
Former Director of the New Schools Network
The Free Speech Union Website Biography Toby Young fails to declare:
Co-founder of The Knowledge Schools Trust
Trustee of Knowledge Schools Foundation Trust
Former Director of the New Schools Network
Associate Editor of Quillette
Daily Sceptic Website Biography Toby Young fails to declare:
Former Director of the New Schools Network
Trustee of Knowledge Schools Foundation Trust
Associate Editor of Quillette
The Knowledge Schools Trust Register of Business & Pecuniary Interests Toby Young fails to declare:
Editor of the Daily Sceptic, published by Skeptics Ltd
Associate Editor of The Spectator
Founder of the Free Speech Union
Associate Editor of Quillette
Former Director of the New Schools Network.
Evidence of obfuscation, based on Toby Young’s public declarations of interests
As a journalist, Toby Young has a duty to be publicly explicit about his interests. He fails to consistently declare his interests which is evidence of obfuscation and could be construed as fraud by failing to disclose information. This is particularly concerning given his influence through his 20-year weekly column in The Spectator and his daily newsletter at the Daily Sceptic.
Review of Toby Young’s interests in Companies House
The Daily Sceptic biography gave a company name as the publisher, Skeptics Limited.
Skeptics Limited
Locating the records.
A search on the name “Skeptics” in Companies House, locates the records for the publisher of the Daily Sceptic, Skeptics Ltd (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=Skeptics). There are only four companies which have used this name. These are:
13246865 - Incorporated on 5 March 2021
1st Floor, 48 Chancery Lane Holborn, London, England, WC2A 1JF
07374013 - Dissolved on 1 May 2012
Office 36 88-90 Hatton Garden, London, United Kingdom, EC1N 8PN
MERSEYSIDE SKEPTICS SOCIETY LIMITED
07352726 - Incorporated on 20 August 2010
Merseyside Skeptics Society, 124 City Road, London, England, EC1V 2NX
05819701 - Dissolved on 29 June 2010
87 Fowler Street, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE35 9HQ
Skeptics Ltd is returned as the first search result. The other companies with the name “Skeptics” are listed listed above, however, the addresses are different, which suggests that they may not be associated.
SKEPTICS LTD
The following overview is provided:
SKEPTICS LTD
Company number 13246865 Registered office address 1st Floor, 48 Chancery Lane Holborn, London, England, WC2A 1JF Company status Active Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 5 March 2021
Accounts
Next accounts made up to 31 March 2024 due by 31 December 2024 Last accounts made up to 31 March 2023
Confirmation statement
Next statement date 4 March 2025 due by 18 March 2025 Last statement dated 4 March 2024
Nature of business (SIC)
58190 - Other publishing activities
Summary of Toby Young and Keystone Law’s Appointments in Skeptics Ltd
Toby Daniel Moorsom Young:
Director: Appointed on 5 March 2021.
Secretary: Appointed on 1 September 2021, Resigned on 2 November 2021.
Keystone Law Limited:
Secretary: Appointed on 29 March 2021, Resigned on 1 September 2021.
Secretary: Reappointed on 2 November 2021 (current role).
Anomalous Behaviour Observed
Reviewing the dates and roles of Toby Young’s appointments reveals a pattern of anomalous behaviour. Specifically, the rapid succession of appointments and resignations within a short timeframe, along with the reappointment to the same role, suggests potential irregularities or conflicts of interest that warrant further scrutiny.
SKEPTICS LTD persons with significant control
1 active person with significant control / 0 active statements
Mr Toby Daniel Moorsom Young ACTIVE
Correspondence address 1st Floor, 48 Chancery Lane, Holborn, London, England, WC2A 1JF Notified on 5 March 2021 Date of birth October 1963 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom
Nature of control Ownership of shares – 75% or more
Ownership of voting rights - 75% or more
Right to appoint or remove directors
Toby Young holds 75% or more of the shares and voting rights in Skeptics Ltd.
Toby Young’s other appointments.
The record of appointments for Toby Young is accessed by clicking on his name in the list of officers in the Companies House records for Skeptics Ltd. His appointments page states:
Total number of appointments 10
Date of birth October 1963
Company status Active Correspondence address 17 Shaa Road, London, England, W3 7LW Role ACTIVE Director Appointed on 22 April 2024 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Journalist
BRITISH FRIENDS OF ISRAEL LIMITED (15307603)
Company status Active Correspondence address 7 Bell Yard, London, England, WC2A 2JR Role ACTIVE Director Appointed on 24 November 2023 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Journalist
BASED MEDIA LIMITED (15096275)
Company status Active Correspondence address 1st Floor, 48, Chancery Lane, London, England, WC2A 1JF Role ACTIVE Director Appointed on 25 August 2023 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Journalist
Company status Active Correspondence address 1st Floor, 48 Chancery Lane, Holborn, London, England, WC2A 1JF Role ACTIVE Director Appointed on 5 March 2021 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Journalist
THE FREE SPEECH UNION LIMITED (12324336)
Company status Active Correspondence address 85 Great Portland Street, London, England, W1W 7LT Role ACTIVE Director Appointed on 20 November 2019 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Journalist
KNOWLEDGE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION TRUST (07292254)
Company status Active Correspondence address 17 Shaa Road, London, England, W3 7LW Role ACTIVE Director Appointed on 27 February 2017 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Journalist
KNOWLEDGE SCHOOLS TRUST (07493696)
Company status Active Correspondence address The West London Free School, Cambridge Grove, London, England, W6 0LB Role RESIGNED Director Appointed on 14 January 2011 Resigned on 27 March 2018 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation None
THE FULBRIGHT FOUNDATION (TRUSTEE) LIMITED (09155112)
Company status Active Correspondence address 17 Shaa Road, London, United Kingdom, W3 7LW Role RESIGNED Director Appointed on 31 July 2014 Resigned on 9 January 2018 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Self-Employed
THE US-UK FULBRIGHT COMMISSION (08900668)
Company status Active Correspondence address Unit 302, 3rd Floor Camelford House, 89 Albert Embankment, London, England, SE1 7TP Role RESIGNED Director Appointed on 18 February 2014 Resigned on 9 January 2018 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Self-Employed
KNOWLEDGE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION TRUST (07292254)
Company status Active Correspondence address 17 Shaa Road, London, W3 7LW Role RESIGNED Director Appointed on 22 June 2010 Resigned on 9 September 2015 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Journalist
A screenshot showing the first few entries is copied below.
Summary of Toby Young’s appointments in Companies House
Toby Daniel Moorsom Young, born in October 1963, holds ten appointments, six of which are currently active. These active roles include director positions at Moynitrust (since April 2024), British Friends of Israel Limited (since November 2023), Based Media Limited (since August 2023), Skeptics Ltd (since March 2021), The Free Speech Union Limited (since November 2019), and Knowledge Schools Foundation Trust (since February 2017). He has resigned from four positions, including Knowledge Schools Trust (resigned March 2018), The Fulbright Foundation (Trustee) Limited (resigned January 2018), The US-UK Fulbright Commission (resigned January 2018), and a previous stint at Knowledge Schools Foundation Trust (resigned September 2015). His primary occupation across these roles is listed as a journalist.
Failure to disclose interests
These roles from Companies House are either not disclosed or inaccurately represented in Toby Young’s biographies on the respective websites. The discrepancies raise concerns regarding transparency and potential conflicts of interest, particularly given Young’s influential positions in journalism and education. An updated list of the interests that have not been disclosed, related to each website, will be presented after completing a test for multiple identities, during which additional interests for Toby Young may be located.
Issues with failing to disclose interests
The failure of Toby Young to disclose his full range of interests is significant due to the potential conflicts of interest and lack of transparency it introduces. This omission could influence his journalistic integrity and erode public trust. In journalism and public commentary, disclosing affiliations is critical for maintaining credibility and ensuring readers can assess potential biases.
Impact on Audience
Young’s undisclosed roles in Skeptics Ltd, Moynitrust, British Friends of Israel Limited, Based Media Limited, The Free Speech Union Limited, and Knowledge Schools Foundation Trust may impact his perspectives and writings, potentially skewing his audience's understanding of issues without their awareness.
Importance of Further Scrutiny
Given the gravity of these issues, it is essential to delve deeper into these interests. This includes verifying identities registered in Companies House, as multiple identities can sometimes be utilised to circumvent regulations aimed at preventing terrorism financing, child trafficking, and money laundering. The presence of multiple identities could suggest attempts to obscure financial activities or affiliations, posing serious concerns under existing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.
Part 2 will look into the details of registering multiple identities and Toby Young and his co-directors will be assessed for whether or not they have multiple identities.