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Charities express relief as government backs down over curbs on campaigning Charities express relief as government backs down over curbs on campaigning
(about 17 hours later)
The government has backed down over its controversial bill allegedly gagging charities from taking part in political campaigning before a general election, following an intense campaign by charities and opposition peers.The government has backed down over its controversial bill allegedly gagging charities from taking part in political campaigning before a general election, following an intense campaign by charities and opposition peers.
An outcry in the autumn forced ministers to announce a six-week pause in the lobbying bill to reflect on the complaints made by the charities.An outcry in the autumn forced ministers to announce a six-week pause in the lobbying bill to reflect on the complaints made by the charities.
The amendments tabled on Thursday in advance of the Lords report stage next week led the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) to say: "Much of the risk to charities from this legislation has now been averted."The amendments tabled on Thursday in advance of the Lords report stage next week led the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) to say: "Much of the risk to charities from this legislation has now been averted."
The charities feared the original draft of the transparency of lobbying, non-party campaigning and trade union administration bill risked banning charities not just from party political campaigning, but also from legitimate non-party political campaigning.The charities feared the original draft of the transparency of lobbying, non-party campaigning and trade union administration bill risked banning charities not just from party political campaigning, but also from legitimate non-party political campaigning.
The main changes tabled by ministers included dropping a plan to cut the amount charities in England can spend on campaigning during the regulated period before they have to register with the Electoral Commission from £10,000 to £5,000. The limit will now be raised to £20,000, reflecting the broader definition of political spending by charities that appears in the legislation.The main changes tabled by ministers included dropping a plan to cut the amount charities in England can spend on campaigning during the regulated period before they have to register with the Electoral Commission from £10,000 to £5,000. The limit will now be raised to £20,000, reflecting the broader definition of political spending by charities that appears in the legislation.
For charities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the threshold will also rise from the current limit £5,000 to £10,000, rather than a planned cut to £2,000. This will reduce the expected administrative burden on charities.For charities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the threshold will also rise from the current limit £5,000 to £10,000, rather than a planned cut to £2,000. This will reduce the expected administrative burden on charities.
The government has also conceded that for the 2015 election, the regulated period for third parties – normally 12 months – will now start on 19 September 2014, the day after the Scottish referendum.The government has also conceded that for the 2015 election, the regulated period for third parties – normally 12 months – will now start on 19 September 2014, the day after the Scottish referendum.
The proposed overall spending limit for charities across the UK during the regulated period is also being raised from £390,000 to £450,000. This still represents a fall from the existing cap of £988,500.The proposed overall spending limit for charities across the UK during the regulated period is also being raised from £390,000 to £450,000. This still represents a fall from the existing cap of £988,500.
The chief executive of the NCVO, Bill Etherington, said: "The bill now provides a much more sensible balance than it did to begin with between creating accountability and transparency in elections while still allowing for charities and others to speak up on issues of concern." The chief executive of the NCVO, Stuart Etherington, said: "The bill now provides a much more sensible balance than it did to begin with between creating accountability and transparency in elections while still allowing for charities and others to speak up on issues of concern."
The bill had been subject to very little prior consultation, and ministers have consistently argued in vain that its intentions were being misinterpreted by over-anxious charities.The bill had been subject to very little prior consultation, and ministers have consistently argued in vain that its intentions were being misinterpreted by over-anxious charities.
Ministers have already watered down plans to widen the definition of party political campaigning.Ministers have already watered down plans to widen the definition of party political campaigning.
The NCVO said there were still some problems with the bill that needed to be addressed in order to make it workable. In particular, it said changes were needed to the proposed measures on staff costs and definitions of the rules on legitimate spending by charities working in coalitions .The NCVO said there were still some problems with the bill that needed to be addressed in order to make it workable. In particular, it said changes were needed to the proposed measures on staff costs and definitions of the rules on legitimate spending by charities working in coalitions .
The changes were also welcomed by Lord Harries of Pentregarth, the former bishop of Oxford, who chairs the Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement, which represents more than 100 non-government organisations. He said there had been a significant change of heart by the government in response to charities' concerns.The changes were also welcomed by Lord Harries of Pentregarth, the former bishop of Oxford, who chairs the Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement, which represents more than 100 non-government organisations. He said there had been a significant change of heart by the government in response to charities' concerns.
"Ministers have recognised the force of the arguments put to them and have made important concessions," said Harries. "However, there are still some major issues that need to be resolved.""Ministers have recognised the force of the arguments put to them and have made important concessions," said Harries. "However, there are still some major issues that need to be resolved."
Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, welcomed the "major shift", but warned: "We must continue to make the argument against the proposed £10,000 cap on spending in one constituency by a charity or campaign group."Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, welcomed the "major shift", but warned: "We must continue to make the argument against the proposed £10,000 cap on spending in one constituency by a charity or campaign group."
Liz Hutchins, of Friends of the Earth, said: "The legislation would still impose significant new restrictions on charities and campaigning organisations from speaking out ahead of elections.Liz Hutchins, of Friends of the Earth, said: "The legislation would still impose significant new restrictions on charities and campaigning organisations from speaking out ahead of elections.
"The proposed inclusion of staff costs would mean significant additional red tape for charities that political parties do not face."The proposed inclusion of staff costs would mean significant additional red tape for charities that political parties do not face.
"Proposed new constituency limits remain unworkable and unenforceable. Charities and campaigning organisations are more effective working together, yet this bill makes this more difficult.""Proposed new constituency limits remain unworkable and unenforceable. Charities and campaigning organisations are more effective working together, yet this bill makes this more difficult."
Joe Irvin, chief executive of the local infrastructure umbrella body Navca, said that although the amendments were an improvement, he was still "baffled as to why the government ever got itself into this situation".Joe Irvin, chief executive of the local infrastructure umbrella body Navca, said that although the amendments were an improvement, he was still "baffled as to why the government ever got itself into this situation".
"Doubling the threshold for registration to £20,000 and requiring only the lead organisation in a coalition to register are significant victories for smaller charities," he said."Doubling the threshold for registration to £20,000 and requiring only the lead organisation in a coalition to register are significant victories for smaller charities," he said.
"However, we still have a bill that restricts the freedom to campaign, makes it harder for groups to raise legitimate concerns with politicians and creates unnecessary red tape for charities – whose campaigning, let's not forget, is already regulated by the Charity Commission.""However, we still have a bill that restricts the freedom to campaign, makes it harder for groups to raise legitimate concerns with politicians and creates unnecessary red tape for charities – whose campaigning, let's not forget, is already regulated by the Charity Commission."
Angela Eagle, shadow Leader of the Commons, argued: "Ministers have already been forced in to a humiliating pause on this bill for fear of losing a key vote, and now they've been forced in to amending it as well.Angela Eagle, shadow Leader of the Commons, argued: "Ministers have already been forced in to a humiliating pause on this bill for fear of losing a key vote, and now they've been forced in to amending it as well.
"While their amendments address a part of the problem, they don't go near solving it.""While their amendments address a part of the problem, they don't go near solving it."
• This article was amended on 10 January 2014 to correct Stuart Etherington's name, from Bill Etherington as the original said.
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