A survey of 150 MPs has shown that one in ten think charities should be able to support a political party, and a further 18 per cent neither agreed nor disagreed with the idea.

The research, by nfpSynergy, showed that 69 per cent of the MPs polled disagreed with the statement ‘Charities should be able to support a political party’. Ten per cent agreed or strongly agreed. Six per cent wrongly believed charities were already legally permitted to be party political.

There was greater backing amongst those polled for businesses being able to support a political party, as they already can.  Some 63 per cent of the MPs agreed with this principle.

nfpSynergy’s driver of ideas, Joe Saxton, used the findings to pose the question: “Why shouldn’t charities be able to support political parties, just like businesses can?”

“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,” Saxton said.

“The seemingly widespread desire amongst MPs for the retention of the current ban on charities backing a political party and its policies is surely both out-of-date and illogical. Like businesses, charities operate within society and thus should rightly seek to influence the political environment.”  

He said they should even be allowed to provide “transparent financial backing” to political parties if they choose.