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Ed Miliband says lobbying bill will put charities in jeopardy Ed Miliband says lobbying bill will put charities in jeopardy
(14 days later)
David Cameron must drop the lobbying bill as it will gag charities and will do nothing to clean up politics, Ed Miliband has said.David Cameron must drop the lobbying bill as it will gag charities and will do nothing to clean up politics, Ed Miliband has said.
As MPs prepare to debate the proposals in the House of Commons, the Labour leader said on Tuesday he could not support it, amid widespread condemnation from the voluntary sector.As MPs prepare to debate the proposals in the House of Commons, the Labour leader said on Tuesday he could not support it, amid widespread condemnation from the voluntary sector.
There are growing nerves in government at opposition to the lobbying, non-party campaigning and trade union administration bill, which will create a statutory register of lobbyists, widen the definition of election campaigning by third parties and restrict how much they can spend on it.There are growing nerves in government at opposition to the lobbying, non-party campaigning and trade union administration bill, which will create a statutory register of lobbyists, widen the definition of election campaigning by third parties and restrict how much they can spend on it.
Dozens of charities from Oxfam to the Royal British Legion have already complained the bill could have a chilling effect on free speech because their activities could be caught within the definition of political campaigning for the first time.Dozens of charities from Oxfam to the Royal British Legion have already complained the bill could have a chilling effect on free speech because their activities could be caught within the definition of political campaigning for the first time.
Kevin Barron, the chairman of the Commons standards committee, has also warned that politicians could fall within its ambit if they raise awareness of matters that are not constituency business. The bill was strongly criticised on Tuesday morning at a hearing of the Commons political and constitutional reform committee.Kevin Barron, the chairman of the Commons standards committee, has also warned that politicians could fall within its ambit if they raise awareness of matters that are not constituency business. The bill was strongly criticised on Tuesday morning at a hearing of the Commons political and constitutional reform committee.
Jenny Watson, chairman of the Electoral Commission, said it was likely that the bill will be open to legal challenge because of the way it is drafted. She said faith organisations, trade bodies and community campaigning groups could also be caught by the uncertainty about whether they should be regulated under the laws.Jenny Watson, chairman of the Electoral Commission, said it was likely that the bill will be open to legal challenge because of the way it is drafted. She said faith organisations, trade bodies and community campaigning groups could also be caught by the uncertainty about whether they should be regulated under the laws.
"Our concern is … the degree to which we think it is disproportionate and unenforceable in some cases … That is something for parliament to think about very carefully," she said."Our concern is … the degree to which we think it is disproportionate and unenforceable in some cases … That is something for parliament to think about very carefully," she said.
Graham Allen, a Labour MP and chairman of the committee, reiterated his call for the bill to be delayed for six months to be reworked in a standing committee. Allen has previously called the bill a "dog's breakfast", while Douglas Carswell, a Tory MP, said that was inaccurate because "far more thought has gone into pet nutrition".Graham Allen, a Labour MP and chairman of the committee, reiterated his call for the bill to be delayed for six months to be reworked in a standing committee. Allen has previously called the bill a "dog's breakfast", while Douglas Carswell, a Tory MP, said that was inaccurate because "far more thought has gone into pet nutrition".
However, ministers insist that there is no risk to the campaigning activities of charities and other groups. On Monday, ministers met the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) in an attempt to reassure charities they would not be affected.However, ministers insist that there is no risk to the campaigning activities of charities and other groups. On Monday, ministers met the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) in an attempt to reassure charities they would not be affected.
The government insists that "third-party campaigning only on policy issues would continue to be exempt" and accused campaigners of scaremongering about the implications of the bill. But the NCVO said it is still deeply concerned that charities will fall within the remit of the new laws.The government insists that "third-party campaigning only on policy issues would continue to be exempt" and accused campaigners of scaremongering about the implications of the bill. But the NCVO said it is still deeply concerned that charities will fall within the remit of the new laws.
It published legal advice this week from a leading human rights lawyer, Helen Mountfield QC, saying charities will be put in fear of criminal prosecution by the new curbs on political campaigning. The trade union Unison has also had legal advice from Michael Ford QC, who said it represents a "serious infringement" of human rights and data protection laws.It published legal advice this week from a leading human rights lawyer, Helen Mountfield QC, saying charities will be put in fear of criminal prosecution by the new curbs on political campaigning. The trade union Unison has also had legal advice from Michael Ford QC, who said it represents a "serious infringement" of human rights and data protection laws.
The bill will curtail the ability of charities and other non-party groups to campaign on political issues in the 12 months before a general election. It would cut the amount third-party groups could spend in this period before a general election from £989,000 to £390,000.The bill will curtail the ability of charities and other non-party groups to campaign on political issues in the 12 months before a general election. It would cut the amount third-party groups could spend in this period before a general election from £989,000 to £390,000.
The bill would also broaden the definition of what constitutes election campaigning, outlined in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000. The bill says activity could be deemed to come within the terms of the act if it affects the outcome of an election – even if that was not its purpose.The bill would also broaden the definition of what constitutes election campaigning, outlined in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000. The bill says activity could be deemed to come within the terms of the act if it affects the outcome of an election – even if that was not its purpose.
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