Richard Flanagan wins Baillie Gifford prize and questions sponsor’s fossil fuel ties

Richard Flanagan said he would welcome an opportunity to speak with Baillie Gifford’s board. Photograph: Matthew Newton/The Guardian

Richard Flanagan’s Question 7 has been named winner of the Baillie Gifford prize for nonfiction, making the Australian writer the first person to have won both this award and the Booker prize for fiction.

However, in his acceptance speech, Flanagan said he would not accept the £50,000 prize money until the fund manager shares a plan to reduce its investment in fossil fuel extraction and increase investments in renewables.