1936
Ownership of the Manchester Guardian is transferred to a trust to protect the newspaper from crippling death duties following the untimely death of Ted Scott. His brother John creates the Scott Trust to ensure the independence of the newspaper and the continuance of the journalistic principles of his father, CP Scott. John Scott is chair of the Trust until 1948.
1948
The Trust is reconstituted in the spirit of the original agreement after legal advice suggests that the Guardian could still be threatened with death duties on the death of John Scott. The beneficiaries of the original Trust hand their shares over to the new trustees. The Scott family’s power to appoint trustees ends and the maintenance of the Trust becomes a collective act. AP Wadsworth becomes chair of the Trust.
1956
Richard Scott (grandson of CP Scott) becomes chair of the Scott Trust.
1984
Former Guardian editor Alastair Hetherington succeeds Richard Scott as chair of the Scott Trust.
1989
Hugo Young, Guardian columnist and senior political commentator, is appointed as the fifth chair of the Scott Trust.
1992
The Scott Trust formally sets out its central objective for the first time: “To secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity: as a quality national newspaper without party affiliation; remaining faithful to its liberal tradition; as a profit-seeking enterprise managed in an efficient and cost-effective manner.”
2003
Liz Forgan becomes chair of the Scott Trust following the death of Hugo Young.
2008
The Scott Trust becomes a limited company in order to strengthen the protection it offers the Guardian.
2016
Alex Graham is appointed as the seventh chair of the Scott Trust.
2021
Ole Jacob Sunde succeeds Alex Graham as chair of the Scott Trust.
2023
The Scott Trust publishes a comprehensive report on the Guardian’s historical connections with transatlantic slavery, sharing an apology and its restorative justice response.