“That’s almost bullying, to be honest”: the nature of charity campaigning in the new Parliament

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

Ten months after an election that led to a new Government and a third of newly elected MPs at Westminster, knowing how best to engage with MPs remains unclear. The picture is complicated further by the wider context of funding cuts, bringing both added impetus for campaigning and making campaigning more difficult, along with uncertainty about what the ‘big society’ might mean for campaigning. As we shall see, questions have been raised about the very legitimacy of charities campaigning, as opposed to delivering services.

Most MPs embrace business support for political parties, but say such backing from charities should remain banned

Submitted by artfulrobot on
  • Labour MPs least keen on businesses supporting political parties, being completely split down the middle on the issue
  • Labour MPs keenest on charities supporting political parties, although still broadly against it
  • “The government review of red tape should see a re-analysis of the restrictions placed on charities, so they can join businesses in advancing their agendas in the way they - with trustees’ and supporters’ backing - see fit,” says nfpSynergy’s Saxton

Most MPs believe that businesses should b

Coalition MPs deem charities to be "more important" post-Election, helping achieve public spending cuts

Submitted by artfulrobot on
  • Lib Dems noticeably less effusive than Tories; Labour MPs most sceptical of all.
  • "Coalition enthusiasm, albeit relatively half-hearted in the Lib Dem camp, is grounds for joy or gloom if you are a charity
  • Depending on whether or not you think this heralds extra support to help you fill any gap resulting from public sector cost-cutting" vies nfpSynergy

Coalition MPs overwhelmingly believe that “charities and social enterprises are going to be more important to the new government than to the last one

Trust in charities bounces back whilst faith in banks wilts

Submitted by Madelyn Dorsey on
  • Two thirds (65%) of British adults claim they trust charities, according to latest figures (Nov 2008)
  • This 23 percentage point rise since July 2007 marks the largest increase in trust in any kind of public institution
  • Banks show nine percentage point slump in public confidence over the same period
  • “Public and voluntary sectors appear trustworthy compared with failing private sector, epitomised by propped-up banks,” touts Saxton
  • “Happily, despite downturn, public probably trusts a

What place for the public in political campaigning for charities?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

The Charity Commission defines campaigning in two ways: firstly, raising public awareness of a particular issue and influencing public opinion; secondly, political activity to influence government policy or legislation. Here we focus on the second kind of campaigning, and the question of involving the public for the purpose of influencing policy or legislation. Of course, it’s important to note that these two kinds of campaigning are by no means mutually exclusive, and often run hand in hand.

A lack of big brand campaigns opens up opportunities for smaller charities campaigning at Westminster

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

At a time when preoccupied MPs are making the headlines for all the wrong reasons, and when charity budgets are constantly under threat, what hope do charities have of getting MPs’ attention? At first impression, the answer seems gloomy.

Party conferences of limited use for lobbying, MPs & Peers tell charities

Submitted by Madelyn Dorsey on
  •  Last year 1 in 4 MPs didn't even bother going, rising to almost 1 in 3 Labour MPs 
  •  "More persuasive to lobby politicians face-to-face in Westminster or at constituency level" says nfpSynergy's Lincoln 

As the party conference season gets underway, only 13% of MPs and 9% of Peers rate attending such gatherings as one of the best ways for charities to influence them, trailing almost every other lobby tactic - according to a poll out today.

Councillors & Local Authorities rate charities highly for public service provision - but doubt Compact

Submitted by Madelyn Dorsey on
  • The majority of Councillors and Local Authority staff rate charity provision of public services at least on a par with a Local Authority’s own
  • Around 3 in 5 rate charity provision of public services over delivery by companies
  • Scarce a quarter think Compact has made a big difference

58% of Councillors and 50% of Local Authority staff think “charities are able to deliver public services as cost-effectively as local authorities”, respective figures rising to 63% and 59% when comparing charita

Subscribe to Politicians