There's an interesting piece from Paul Staines, writing in The Times on 20th December 2005, about 'think tanks' actually operating as corporate lobbyists.

Interestingly, amongst those accused are Demos. Staines writes, "The Blairite Demos think-tank will provide
policy recommendations for cash. When Cable & Wireless wanted its bitter rival BT broken up, Demos obliged with a pamphlet recommending
that the Government do it. Ker-ching!"

Staines appears not to have completed his homework however. He finishes by quoting, John Blundell, the director-general of the respected Institute of Economic Affairs," who he says despises these “wonk whores”.

Blundell apparently says: “Global companies are buying up think-tanks left, right and centre. Large cheques come attached to particular policy recommendations and senior corporate types sit on committees ready to ‘candle-snuff’ dangerous ideas.”"

However,  the IEA, according to SourceWatch appear to "run and fund directly" the IPN - one of the groups Staines attacks earlier in the piece for acting as corporate lobbyists.

Hmm...