Electoral Commission responds to charities on Lobbying Act

18 Oct 2017 News

The chief executive of the Electoral Commission has written back to NCVO, Acevo and Bond, who earlier this week had asked for an explanation of its stance opposing some recommended changes to the Lobbying Act. 

In September, after charities had presented evidence of how the act had deterred charities from campaigning during the 2017 election and called for urgent amendments, the Cabinet Office said it had no plans to amend the Act. It was suggested that lack of space in the legislative programme was the problem. 

Charities said that having met with the minister for the constitution, Chris Skidmore, and the minister for civil society, Tracey Crouch, they understood that the Electoral Commission held objections to some of proposed changes. 

Claire Bassett, chief executive of the Electoral Commission, has now replied and drawn attention to the regulator’s response to Lord Hodgson’s proposals, which were published on its website in October 2016. 

“You will note that the Commission welcomed Lord Hodgson’s important review, and our response highlighted our support for the majority of his recommendations. The report did include some recommendations about which we had concerns, and we urged the government to give them further consideration,” she said.

She added that it is for the government to decide on implementing recommendations. 

She also said: “We would be pleased to continue to work with NCVO, Acevo, Bond and others to help promote understanding of the current rules.”

Bassett also said she was “saddened” by the tone of press release and that she “would have hoped that a call or email would have been appropriate to clarify our position”. 


 

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