Tony Blair's policy institute bankrolled by billionaire Larry Ellison
Tony Blair’s policy institute is bankrolled by American tech billionaire Larry Ellison whose firm supplied software to the government when the ex-PM was in No10
- Former PMs policy institute is being bankrolled by tech billionaire Larry Ellison
- The pair have known each other since Sir Tony’s time in Downing Street
Tony Blair’s policy institute is being bankrolled by American tech billionaire Larry Ellison, the foundation’s accounts have revealed.
Mr Ellison, the founder of software firm Oracle, gave the Tony Blair Institute £26million in 2021, with plans for future donations of a further £38million.
The pair have known each other since Sir Tony’s time in Downing Street, when Oracle supplied software to his government. They also worked together during the pandemic to speed up vaccination rates in Africa.
The US tech tycoon’s recent donations to the former PM have been earmarked for similar projects, namely a joint partnership to help African countries create a central database of vaccination records to monitor and combat a variety of diseases. At the time, Sir Tony said: ‘This is an immensely exciting and potentially ground-breaking initiative for recording information on all disease vaccinations and treatments in African nations.
‘That means vaccination of at least a significant portion of the population, requiring the highest quality data system so that everyone’s vaccine experience is recorded. Oracle can provide that system with data securely stored and owned by each country and is prepared to do so as part of a global philanthropic partnership.’
Tony Blair’s policy institute is being bankrolled by American tech billionaire Larry Ellison, the foundation’s accounts have revealed
In the Tony Blair Institute’s financial review in 2021, it said it had ‘entered into an exciting partnership with the Larry Ellison Foundation’.
Mr Ellison is currently the fourth wealthiest person in the world, ahead of Bill Gates, according to Forbes.
Oracle previously signed deals with the Home Office and Cabinet Office to supply software. The firm bought US electronic health record company Cerner last year for £22billion, with the aim of creating a single national health record database in the US.
The Tony Blair Institute, which was established in 2016, has also received substantial donations from Saudi Arabia, the US State Department and the Canadian government.
The not-for-profit body claims to help countries address major issues such as poverty and extremism.
Source: Read Full Article