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If Britain's charities are gagged, who will stop this lobbying bill? If Britain's charities are gagged, who will stop this lobbying bill?
(about 2 hours later)
Long ago charities were seduced by David Cameron's "big society", lending it their support, full of expectations. Asked to deliver better than the big state was doing, they trotted into the fox's lair, greeted in Downing Street to lend their good names to big society events. Then came deep national and local cuts to their funds. Many were "bid candy" for work programme and other contracts, but found more Big Serco than big society winners. These were disappointments, but in their innocence they never expected an onslaught on their character and reputation.Long ago charities were seduced by David Cameron's "big society", lending it their support, full of expectations. Asked to deliver better than the big state was doing, they trotted into the fox's lair, greeted in Downing Street to lend their good names to big society events. Then came deep national and local cuts to their funds. Many were "bid candy" for work programme and other contracts, but found more Big Serco than big society winners. These were disappointments, but in their innocence they never expected an onslaught on their character and reputation.
Charities are trusted beyond the wildest hopes of any political party, yet the coalition is charging at them full tilt. William Shawcross, appointed as a partisan chair of the Charity Commission, has accused them of aiding terrorism abroad, amid accusations of "political" campaigning at home. Oliver Letwin, speaking to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), complained that "so much effort in some parts of the voluntary sector is devoted to campaigning". Iain Duncan Smith let fly at a children's charity that was given leave for a judicial review of his benefit policies – and judicial reviews are to be curtailed. The Trussell Trust got a dusty Tory response this week to its shocking report on the rising need for food banks. The rightwing Institute of Economic Affairs' report attacking charities called them political "sockpuppets" with "an illusion of grassroots support". Well, that public support is about to be tested, as untrusted politicians go head to head with a much-trusted sector.Charities are trusted beyond the wildest hopes of any political party, yet the coalition is charging at them full tilt. William Shawcross, appointed as a partisan chair of the Charity Commission, has accused them of aiding terrorism abroad, amid accusations of "political" campaigning at home. Oliver Letwin, speaking to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), complained that "so much effort in some parts of the voluntary sector is devoted to campaigning". Iain Duncan Smith let fly at a children's charity that was given leave for a judicial review of his benefit policies – and judicial reviews are to be curtailed. The Trussell Trust got a dusty Tory response this week to its shocking report on the rising need for food banks. The rightwing Institute of Economic Affairs' report attacking charities called them political "sockpuppets" with "an illusion of grassroots support". Well, that public support is about to be tested, as untrusted politicians go head to head with a much-trusted sector.
The lobbying bill arrives in the Lords on Tuesday, crafted to barely touch the professional lobbying trade, which Cameron once called "the next great scandal waiting to happen". Only 1% of lobbying is caught, not Lynton Crosby's tobacco and alcohol lobbying firm right in the heart of government nor any in-house lobbying by companies; scores of meetings with energy firms go unrecorded.The lobbying bill arrives in the Lords on Tuesday, crafted to barely touch the professional lobbying trade, which Cameron once called "the next great scandal waiting to happen". Only 1% of lobbying is caught, not Lynton Crosby's tobacco and alcohol lobbying firm right in the heart of government nor any in-house lobbying by companies; scores of meetings with energy firms go unrecorded.
Part two of the bill will curb charities and others campaigning for a full year before elections by limiting what they can spend, counting all their overheads. Going about their ordinary business risks turning charities criminal if they fail to register with the Electoral Commission, which is itself highly critical of the bill. Trustees will never know how far they can go on climate change, child poverty, hunting, housing, badgers or any other advocacy. The bill is being rush through is to ensure a year of silence can be imposed by next May. Part two of the bill will curb charities and others campaigning for a full year before elections by limiting what they can spend, counting all their overheads. Going about their ordinary business risks turning charities criminal if they fail to register with the Electoral Commission, which is itself highly critical of the bill. Trustees will never know how far they can go on climate change, child poverty, hunting, housing, badgers or any other advocacy. The bill being rush through is to ensure a year of silence can be imposed by next May.
The Lords all-party constitution committee today suggests the bill undermines "the fundamental constitutional right to freedom of political expression", silencing third-party campaigners while failing to curb lobbyists. So far this has stayed under the public radar, but will the coalition get away with it, or will the Lords rebel?The Lords all-party constitution committee today suggests the bill undermines "the fundamental constitutional right to freedom of political expression", silencing third-party campaigners while failing to curb lobbyists. So far this has stayed under the public radar, but will the coalition get away with it, or will the Lords rebel?
The coalition has a natural Lords majority. Lib Dems used to oppose threats to civil liberties but no longer: Nick Clegg instigated this bill. Afraid of a backlash from the National Union of Students over fees, anti-frackers and myriad single-issue groups who were once allies, he pressed for this gagging act to protect his candidates in election year. The Lords is jam-packed with trustees and patrons, so charities are calling on them to speak up on Tuesday – and that means staying until the vote. The government delays awkward votes, knowing how many Lords make fine speeches but slip away to supper before voting. No vote, no daily allowance should be the rule.The coalition has a natural Lords majority. Lib Dems used to oppose threats to civil liberties but no longer: Nick Clegg instigated this bill. Afraid of a backlash from the National Union of Students over fees, anti-frackers and myriad single-issue groups who were once allies, he pressed for this gagging act to protect his candidates in election year. The Lords is jam-packed with trustees and patrons, so charities are calling on them to speak up on Tuesday – and that means staying until the vote. The government delays awkward votes, knowing how many Lords make fine speeches but slip away to supper before voting. No vote, no daily allowance should be the rule.
The government is set against a formidable foe. In just three weeks Richard Harries, the former Bishop of Oxford, has set up a Commission on Civil Society, which has already held emergency hearings on the bill all round the UK, backed by Christian Aid, Women's Institutes, the Countryside Alliance, 38 Degrees, Oxfam, vegans, Quakers, the British Legion and scores more. Even the TaxPayers' Alliance is protesting, with the rightwing Centre for Policy Studies calling it "an extraordinary attack on free speech that must be scrapped".The government is set against a formidable foe. In just three weeks Richard Harries, the former Bishop of Oxford, has set up a Commission on Civil Society, which has already held emergency hearings on the bill all round the UK, backed by Christian Aid, Women's Institutes, the Countryside Alliance, 38 Degrees, Oxfam, vegans, Quakers, the British Legion and scores more. Even the TaxPayers' Alliance is protesting, with the rightwing Centre for Policy Studies calling it "an extraordinary attack on free speech that must be scrapped".
Government amendments to the bill have not assuaged the fears of the third sector. Their legal opinion says the bill still restricts organisations' ability to engage in campaigns or policy debates and "will insulate the executive" from "external criticism". The charities were outraged when William Shawcross asserted they were now "happy" with the bill. But noise from the press and the BBC has been notably lacking, so perhaps yet again the government can rely on its supportive media to let it do whatever it wants. That's a lesson in brazenness for Labour – next time, just do it.Government amendments to the bill have not assuaged the fears of the third sector. Their legal opinion says the bill still restricts organisations' ability to engage in campaigns or policy debates and "will insulate the executive" from "external criticism". The charities were outraged when William Shawcross asserted they were now "happy" with the bill. But noise from the press and the BBC has been notably lacking, so perhaps yet again the government can rely on its supportive media to let it do whatever it wants. That's a lesson in brazenness for Labour – next time, just do it.
Charities are valued for their status as thorns in the side of the establishment, free to speak out about their own concerns – from plain cigarette packets to village greens, from animals to the state of the poor, sick or old. But they are easily cowed. A Charity Commission bent on too heavily policing them for "political" campaigning will seal their lips. A bill designed to stop them saying anything in election year is already chilling some. Several I spoke to were strongly opposed but afraid to have their organisation mentioned, relying on trenchant advocacy from NCVO and charity leaders' network Acevo, whose head, Stephen Bubb, says, "They're scared, the general atmosphere has made the political terrain too tough," noting a threatening article by Chris Grayling in the Mail about political campaigning. "Who else but these organisations has the real life experience to tell truth to power about the effects of benefit changes on mentally ill or disabled people? Who else sees what the bedroom tax is doing?"Charities are valued for their status as thorns in the side of the establishment, free to speak out about their own concerns – from plain cigarette packets to village greens, from animals to the state of the poor, sick or old. But they are easily cowed. A Charity Commission bent on too heavily policing them for "political" campaigning will seal their lips. A bill designed to stop them saying anything in election year is already chilling some. Several I spoke to were strongly opposed but afraid to have their organisation mentioned, relying on trenchant advocacy from NCVO and charity leaders' network Acevo, whose head, Stephen Bubb, says, "They're scared, the general atmosphere has made the political terrain too tough," noting a threatening article by Chris Grayling in the Mail about political campaigning. "Who else but these organisations has the real life experience to tell truth to power about the effects of benefit changes on mentally ill or disabled people? Who else sees what the bedroom tax is doing?"
In the halcyon days before the election, Francis Maude told Bubb to "make sure you keep our feet to the fire" on supporting charities. But that was then. Now, says Bubb, "they've put our feet in the fire instead".In the halcyon days before the election, Francis Maude told Bubb to "make sure you keep our feet to the fire" on supporting charities. But that was then. Now, says Bubb, "they've put our feet in the fire instead".
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