Chinese billionaire is funding left-wing anarchists

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• Make money $$$ giving your political opinion

  February 3, 2026 at QZVX

  Jason Remington says:

  Who knew you could sit at home eating your Cheerios and make money with your political beliefs — through online surveys? Where does this lead? Where is the money coming from, and is there bigger money behind that?

  YouGov.com is the primary online platform and brand of YouGov plc, a leading international market research, opinion polling, and data analytics company founded in 2000 in the United Kingdom. Headquartered in London, it is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market (ticker: YOU) and operates globally with panels of millions of respondents across regions including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and India. The company pioneered internet-based polling and research, emphasizing “living data” from its proprietary panel to deliver insights on public opinion, brands, politics, media, and consumer behavior. The key individuals central to YouGov’s origins and development are its co-founders, Stephan Shakespeare and Nadhim Zahawi, along with a notable early connection to Jeffrey Archer—a disgraced British politician, author, and investor whose political and financial circles indirectly influenced the founders’ paths. Below is a comprehensive summary of these people, drawing together their backgrounds, careers, roles in YouGov, and interconnections.

  Stephan Adrian Shakespeare (born April 9, 1957; originally né Kukowski) is a German-British entrepreneur widely regarded as the visionary behind YouGov’s innovative approach to online research. He co-founded the company in May 2000 with Nadhim Zahawi and has been its most consistent executive presence.

  Shakespeare graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English Language and Literature. His pre-business career was unconventional for a tech/data entrepreneur: he began as a teacher, completing a one-year teaching course before moving to the United States in the 1980s. There, he worked as a teacher and founding principal/headmaster at Landmark West Preparatory School in Los Angeles, holding senior teaching positions in California. Upon returning to the UK, he taught at Charles Edward Brooke girls’ secondary school in Lambeth.Shift to Politics and Polling
  In the 1990s, Shakespeare transitioned into politics and commentary, adopting the name “Shakespeare.” He became a political commentator, pollster for the Conservative Party, and campaign director/spokesman for Jeffrey Archer during Archer’s failed 1999–2000 bid to become Mayor of London. He also stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate for Colchester in the 1997 general election. This experience in political polling and campaigning gave him insight into survey methods, though he had no formal background in traditional market research.

  Shakespeare and Zahawi met through shared Conservative political networks in the late 1990s, particularly via their work on Archer’s campaigns. In 2000, they launched YouGov as a pioneer in internet-based market research, registering it initially as YouGov Dot Com Limited. Shakespeare served as joint CEO with Zahawi from 2000, then as Chief Innovations Officer, and became sole CEO in May 2010 after Zahawi’s departure for Parliament. Under his leadership, YouGov grew rapidly: it accurately predicted election outcomes (e.g., Labour’s 2001 victory within one point), expanded its global panel (now over 22–25 million members), and floated on AIM in 2005. Shakespeare drove innovation, building proprietary technology for real-time data collection and analytics. He stepped down as CEO in August 2023 to become Non-Executive Chair, with Steve Hatch taking over. However, amid challenges (including activist investor pressure from Gatemore Capital Management criticizing performance), Hatch departed in February 2025, and Shakespeare returned as interim CEO (later confirmed as permanent). As of early 2026, he remains CEO, with compensation around £303,000 annually (including salary, bonuses, and stock), and holds about 1.64% of shares (worth millions). He is credited with YouGov’s strategy of “innovation-led growth” and its status as a global leader in opinion research.Shakespeare’s career reflects a blend of education, teaching, political advisory work, and entrepreneurial vision—no prior market research expertise, but a knack for applying polling insights digitally.

  Nadhim Zahawi: Co-Founder, Early CEO, and Path to High PoliticsNadhim Zahawi (born June 2, 1967, in Baghdad, Iraq) is a Kurdish-British businessman and politician whose refugee background and entrepreneurial drive shaped his role in YouGov before a high-profile political career.

  Born to a Kurdish family in Iraq, Zahawi fled Saddam Hussein’s regime as a child refugee around age 9 in the late 1970s, arriving in the UK. He attended schools including Holland Park, Ibstock Place, and King’s College School, then earned a BSc in chemical engineering from University College London (UCL) in 1988.

  Post-graduation, Zahawi worked briefly as a chemical engineer before entering entrepreneurship. He part-owned a clothing manufacturer (Allen (Hinckley) Ltd, which failed in 1998) and a Teletubbies merchandise venture that attracted investment from Jeffrey Archer. He later served as European Marketing Director for Smith & Brooks Ltd. Politically active early, he was a Conservative councillor in Wandsworth (1994–2006) and stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in Erith and Thamesmead in 1997.

  Zahawi’s breakthrough came through Jeffrey Archer in the early 1990s. He and fellow British-Kurd Broosk Saib served as aides during Archer’s “Simple Truth” campaign for Kurdish Gulf War victims. Archer recognized Zahawi’s organizational skills (“a born organizer”) and invested in his ventures, introducing him to senior Conservatives (including Margaret Thatcher via parties). This network opened doors in Tory circles.

  In 2000, Zahawi co-founded YouGov with Shakespeare (fellow Archer alumni). He served as joint CEO initially, then sole CEO from 2005 to February 2010. During this period, YouGov floated on AIM in 2005 (valued at £18 million), grew significantly, and Zahawi cashed in shares (e.g., £1.2 million in 2005). He left in 2010 to pursue Parliament full-time (elected MP for Stratford-on-Avon). Founder shares were structured notably: some issued to his father to recognize startup contributions, amid later scrutiny over tax arrangements. Zahawi had marketing/business experience but no direct polling background; his success stemmed from ambition, networking, and execution in the early internet polling space.

  Zahawi’s post-2010 career was meteoric but turbulent: roles under Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak included Education Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer (briefly in 2022), and Tory Chairman. He faced controversies (e.g., tax affairs leading to ministerial code breaches and sacking in 2023). After failing to win Conservative leadership, he defected to Reform UK in January 2026. His YouGov wealth made him one of Parliament’s richest MPs.

  Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare (born 1940) is a former Conservative politician, life peer, and bestselling novelist whose scandals overshadowed his career. His connection to YouGov is indirect but pivotal: as a mentor and investor to both founders.
  Archer entered politics young: Greater London Council (1967), MP for Louth (1969–1974, youngest at election). Resigned in 1974 after the Aquablast scandal (heavy investment in a fraudulent Canadian company collapsed, leaving £427,000–£500,000 debts). Returned as Deputy Chairman under Margaret Thatcher (1985–1986), resigned over a sex scandal. Created life peer in 1992 by John Major. Ran for London Mayor in 1999–2000 but withdrew after perjury allegations tied to a 1987 libel win against the Daily Star (over false alibi claims). Convicted of perjury/perverting justice in 2001, served half of four-year sentence (released 2002). Retired from Lords in 2024.Aquablast Scandal (Early 1970s)

  Archer invested heavily in Aquablast (anti-pollution/tech firm) on Bank of Boston advice; shares collapsed amid director fraud (three jailed). Losses forced parliamentary resignation and asset sales, inspiring his writing career.
  To repay debts, Archer wrote Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less (1976), a revenge thriller about four victims conning a fraudster out of exactly their losses—mirroring his Aquablast experience. It became a bestseller, launching successes like Kane and Abel (1979), a generational saga of rivalrous men (William Kane, privileged banker; Abel Rosnovski, immigrant hotelier) whose hatred drives intertwined fates, ending in reconciliation. Themes of ambition, class, revenge, and destiny echo Archer’s life.

  Archer invested six-figure sums in YouGov early on, reportedly owning one-third at points. He met Zahawi (and Shakespeare) via campaigns: Zahawi aided “Simple Truth” and mayoral bid; Shakespeare was campaign director. This patronage provided networks, introductions, and possibly seed support, though Archer’s scandals (perjury conviction) distanced him politically.Summary of Interconnections and LegacyYouGov’s origins trace to late-1990s Conservative circles around Jeffrey Archer—his mayoral campaign and charity work linked Shakespeare (campaign director) and Zahawi (aide/investee). Archer’s investment and introductions helped launch the company, though the founders built it through digital innovation and growth. Shakespeare provided polling vision and longevity (CEO multiple times, including 2025 return); Zahawi brought business drive before politics. Archer’s role was catalytic but peripheral amid his downfall.

  As of 2026, YouGov thrives under Shakespeare, with a global panel, advanced analytics, and no direct ongoing ties to Archer or Zahawi (who left in 2010). The story highlights how political networks, personal ambition, and early internet adoption created a major research firm from humble, scandal-touched beginnings.

  ** Money influences political belief, voting, and allegiance.

  Reply

  • How about keeping your political leanings out of this supposed media blog

    February 3, 2026 at QZVX

    MARTIN HOWELL says:

    They have no place here. None.

    Reply

    • Always nice to hear from the opposing view.

      February 3, 2026 at QZVX

      Jason Remington says:

      Thanks for your input. Have a great day!

      Reply