Charities minister Brooks Newmark has said charities have “every right to campaign within the law” and that he “wholeheartedly agrees” with the idea that charities should advocate on behalf of their beneficiaries.

In a speech at a party hosted by NCVO to thank his predecessor, Nick Hurd, Newmark said he understood charities well, and was keen to have them speak out about policy.

He said the sector did have a valuable role to play in influencing government policy and politics, in a further attempt to distance himself from a statement earlier in the week that charities should “stick to their knitting” and stay out of “the realm of politics”.

Newmark said he had spent “most of my adult life” working in the sector and had set up his own charity working in Rwanda.

“I get it. I understand it from the grassroots,” he said.

“The charity sector with all their expertise have an important role to play in informing government policy,” he said. “As the minister I expect to be hearing about the challenges out there but also about the solutions. I want to hear what you want in the manifestos.

“I’m going to be a strong voice for you in government, particularly for smaller charities,” he added.

In a blog today for Civil Society News, Newmark stressed again that charities have “every right to campaign within the law”, and that he does not support restrictions on campaigning beyond those which already exist in charity law.

“They are brilliant at doing so and are part of the fabric of our society,” he wrote. “Indeed the government is working with many charities on changes to current policy. However, it has long been the case under charity law that they must not be party political.”

He quoted Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of leadership body Acevo, as saying that the “age-old duty” of the sector was “to help our beneficiaries and causes both by delivering services and advocating with them and on their behalf”.

“I wholeheartedly agree,” he said.