Bubb asks MPs for meeting to debate criticisms of charity sector

Governance | Vibeka Mair | 26 Jan 2011

Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of Acevo, has asked the public administration select committee for a session with charity chief executives to address criticisms made towards the voluntary sector in a PASC meeting last week.

The meeting saw charity representatives Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, and Thomas Hughes-Hallett, chief executive of Marie Curie Cancer Care, forced to defend the sector’s right to campaign and charity chief executives' salaries.

Writing in his personal blog, Sir Stephen said he was “appalled” at comments made by PASC MPs:

“MPs are saying shocking things like campaigning is wrong, taking public money makes you an arm of the state, social investment is a gimmick/wrong, charity CEOs are fat cats, bla bla.

“The depth of the prejudice and the length of stereotype would be laughable if these MPs were not conducting a serious study into sector funding at a time when we face a rising storm of cuts, more cost and higher demand.”

Sir Stephen has written to Bernard Jenkin MP, chair of the PASC, to ask for a session to “put the record straight”, and plans to write to MPs at last week’s PASC meeting, asking them to meet charity sector chief executives for debate.

Meanwhile, Sir Stephen has also written to Prime Minister David Cameron warning on cynicism around the Big Society agenda and calling for a reverse in cuts to the sector and the establishment of the Big Society Bank.

Directory: Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) | Marie Curie Cancer Care | National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Who's Who: Thomas Hughes-Hallett | Sir Stuart Etherington | Sir Stephen Bubb

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