Charities should be banned from political campaigning, members decided comfortably, though many of the Yes arguments were really about something narrower than the question asked.
The most-respected Yes cases were blunt. One began from conversion, “I would have voted ‘no’ until recently”, citing a charity's public statements. The other, equally rated, claimed “they already are, although the law is poorly and unevenly applied.” Others turned to money: charities operate under a tax-subsidised mandate, one argued, and so act as taxpayer-funded lobby groups.
The most-respected No case took the opposite route, from purpose. A charity should be free to push for change in its own field, and a ban would leave the sector “completely incapable of pushing for change.” The other top No voice allowed campaigning but warned charities not to complain about donations if it backfires. A third No voice put it more bleakly: “The voluntary sector is our nation’s conscience.”
The sides were closer than the margin suggests. Several Yes voters conceded charities should be able to campaign on policy and objected only to backing parties, which is already barred. One No voter made that same point: banning party support, “as is already the case, is the most that can or should be done.” Both camps also reached for the donor, one to say donors never signed up for this, the other to say donors can simply walk away.
The disagreement that remained was whether policy advocacy belongs in a charity at all.
58 Opinions
Yes; and they already are, although the law is poorly and unevenly applied.
I would have voted ‘no’ until recently, but having listened to some of the stuff that the charity Hope not Hate came out with (eg the incident of one of its founders saying white men were driving around & throwing acid into muslim women’s faces & getting away with it while Lucy Connelly went to gaol for hurty words) then I’ve changed my mind. If Two Tier policing & justice didn’t exist in the UK then my answer would be still be ‘no’ so now it’s ‘yes’.
Charities are stuffed with activists using them as a skinsuit who truly believe they are justified in using any means at their disposal to fulfil their personal unrelated crusade. Usually Climatranistine. They need very strict boundaries.
There are too many corrupt charities that are known to be nefarious and need to be called out . Stricter rules need to be applied immediately across the board.
Charities and party politics don’t mix.
Why should a domestic violence charity not be able to lobby and campaign for a change in domestic violence law? You can't have a thriving third sector and also make them completely incapable of pushing for change.
Charities & NGOs should not be funded by Govt. They are given money & then use that money to lobby for certain policies & yet more money. Govt then dishonestly claims that there is a demand for such policies & pays up. It’s corrupt. If people want to pay to support a Charity fine, but those organisations who spend little on what they have been set up for & vast amounts on admin & salaries is increasing. Looks v much like USAID & Act Blue money laundering scams in the US,
NO they should be allowed to campaign if they wish. Particularly if that campaigning is around their area of expertise. BUT they shouldn't then cry about lack of donations if that campaigning backfires and cause the public to turn against them
In the end, it's best to know the political agenda behind these organisations, so we can avoid giving them money.
Charities should not engage in political campaigning, but should be free to raise awareness, inform public debate and potential impact of party policies.