As the Lobbying Bill trundles through Parliament, the nightmare of charities being severely limited in politically representing their beneficiaries threatens to become a reality. So what exactly do the public think about charities having the right to lobby? And what does it mean to MPs and journalists for charities to 'be political'?
By nfpResearch co-Managing Director, Tim Harrison-Byrne
Last year, Cian and I travelled to the United States for a series of conferences and meetings with colleagues across the nonprofit sector. On that trip, and in the months since, we have spoken with leaders working in communications, marketing, development and executive roles at both funders and delivery organisations across the country. All conversations were off the record.
What do Scottish donors and politicians really think about charities? A preview of our Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations findings
If you work in the Scottish charity sector, you will probably recognise the mood. Public goodwill can feel fragile, political attention is stretched and the pace of the news cycle leaves little room for reflection. Against that backdrop, it is worth asking a simple question: what do Scottish donors and politicians actually think about charities right now?
As Reform UK gathers a head of steam, charities are asking themselves fundamental questions. Should they engage with the party on policy issues like they would with any other? Or should a party with very different values from many in the sector be beyond the pale for charity public affairs teams? We debated this topic at nfpResearch in one of our recent monthly knowledge meetings. Views were split. Some colleagues argued that charities must take the pragmatic approach and work with those in power.
On 17 July, Labour announced plans to table a Bill introducing a range of measures of electoral reform to “restore trust in our democracy”, featuring lowering the voting age in all UK elections to include 16- and 17-year olds.
Members of our team recently attended the launch of the latest British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey produced by NatCen. The BSA is widely regarded as one of the most reliable barometers of public opinion in the UK. It provides rich insight into how people across the country view politics, society and everyday life.
With elections in Scotland and Wales less than a year away – and Northern Ireland to follow in 2027 – now is a timely moment for charities to reflect on how politicians across the UK are engaging with the sector. As manifestos are drafted and campaigning begins to ramp up, it’s worth considering the current attitudes of devolved politicians. Recent surveys we conducted offer a revealing picture: Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Northern Ireland appear to lead the way when it comes to valuing and engaging with charities.
Figure 1: Attitudes towards charities
Peter Dawson
On 17th July we hosted a dynamic panel discussion to explore the state of the UK charity sector and the new opportunities emerging under the recently elected Labour government. Our distinguished panel included Chloe Wright, Head of External Affairs at Age UK, Alex Kenney, Senior Public Affairs Manager at BHF, and Sophie Dodgeon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at RNIB. Together, they provided valuable insights and discussed the potential impacts of the new political landscape on charitable organizations.