Sector reactions to the surprising election outcome of a majority Conservative government varied hugely this morning, from “an appalling result” to “we expect great things”.

We spoke to a selection of sector leaders and gathered statements from others.  Read on to see what they said.

Richard Leaman, chief executive, Guide Dogs

Richard Leaman said that on an organisational level, Guide Dogs would continue to work with the government to make the UK better for blind people - as it had done over the last five years.

“We’ve achieved some good legislative changes over the last two years, not by confronting government but by working with them, so I don’t think that will change.  On the Dangerous Dogs Act, on the Children and Families Act and on the Anti-Social Behaviour Act the law was changed positively in favour of blind people because we gave the government the evidence, they listened and changed the law.

“On a national level, we have a concern that the forthcoming £15bn worth of cuts don’t hit the most vulnerable in society, and if the Conservatives want us to be a ‘One Nation’, they must remember that that nation includes disabled people.  Inclusion and access and fair welfare support is a critical part of being One Nation so if Cameron wants to live by his mantra that’s something we’d be very keen for him to focus on.”

Leaman also said he would like the new government to “have a look at the Charity Commission – its role, its chairmanship, its function and the amount of resource they put into it.  If it’s going to be an effective body it needs to be independently chaired and properly resourced.”

And he added that from a parochial standpoint, the charity would continue to lobby the government to force bus companies to install audio-video equipment on all buses “so that blind people know where they are”.  Despite a good deal of pressure from Guide Dogs, so far the government has refused to legislate because of lobbying by the bus companies, Leaman said. “So we will continue to work away at this issue.”

Lynne Berry, deputy chair of the Canal and River Trust and chair of the Commission on Ageing and the Voluntary Sector

Lynne Berry said: “These are extraordinary times, when we are trying to balance what we want for our communities with what the nation wants to do as a whole. There will be a lot of uncertainty.”

She said she was struck by David Cameron’s “One Nation” statement, because “in the past being a One-Nation Tory implied something about social cohesion and that sense of what was called a Big Society.  

“But in the new world, where there’s a real development of nationalist interests, what does ‘One Nation’ mean? His next statement was about being 'one United Kingdom' and I think that those things are going to be in an interesting tension over the next Parliament.”

Berry said the sector will need to think very hard about how it works with government now, because of the different political landscape in each of the regions. “It will be different in England, Wales and Scotland and those organisations that operate across the whole of the UK are going to have to develop a real clarity about how they operate in the three countries and make it work.  It’s a challenge the sector is absolutely up for, but it means there will be a lot of change in its relationship with government because now it will absolutely have to be a relationship with governments, plural.

“The sector has to decide for itself what its future is and take control of its own destiny.  This is a reminder to the sector that it has its own voice and vision and should look to itself not to any government, to determine what that is.”

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive, NCVO

Sir Stuart contended that the Hodgson review of the Lobbying Act will become more significant now because there is not going to be an immediate repeal.  He also referred to the Conservative manifesto commitment of three days volunteering for employees of large companies, saying he expected the new government to honour that.  And he predicted a further rapid austerity programme which would result in further reductions in public spending and therefore local government budgets, which will be “significant” for the sector.

Sir Stuart expected the new government would replace its Big Society narrative with a sharp focus on volunteering, and particularly youth social action.  “They’ll beef up the National Citizen Service so I think for Big Society we can read significant focus on volunteering.”

He had no inkling of who the new minister for civil society might be, though he added: “I think there will still be some form of government department and we will be trying to ensure that the function stays in the Cabinet Office.”

Andy Benson, director, National Coalition of Independent Action

Andy Benson described the election result as “absolutely appalling – we’re thinking of emigrating…to Scotland”.

“This outcome is very disappointing and presages business as usual for voluntary action – we need to redouble activism to resist what we know is coming down the line from the Tory government – more cuts, more creation of destitution, more dismantling of public services and more privatisation of what’s left.

“We are utterly, utterly opposed to all of those things.”

Benson predicted that the reaction from NCVO would be “militant optimism”, and from Acevo a statement about “looking forward to working in partnership with the new government, as usual” – when really what the sector needs is “people to stand up and be counted about all this”.

“The decimation of vulnerable, poor, and minority ethnic communities over the last five years has been absolutely catastrophic and the Conservatives refuse to spell out where their £12bn of further cuts will come from. 

"But we all know that the axe is going to fall, as before, on the people who are least able to sustain it.”

Neil Jameson, Citizens UK

Neil Jameson said that Citizens UK “welcomes a clear result”.  Asked whether it was the right result for the sector, he said: “We’re non-partisan so it’s the right result for the country because the people have voted.

“We look forward to a constructive relationship with the Conservative government on the areas they have agreed to work with us on – the living wage, and social care.”  The charity had already secured a commitment from the coalition to “work together” on boosting take-up of the living wage, and on social care Citizens UK had some success with its campaign to reduce the number of care workers that visit an elderly person. “Our campaign was for a named, trained and reasonably paid worker, and in a way we got commitment to all of that though there is a dispute about how and when a ‘reasonably paid’ deal was possible - but it’s linked to the living wage commitment.”

Jameson added: “We welcome a strong government and look forward to continuing to work with whoever’s in charge.”

Debra Allcock Tyler, chief executive, Directory of Social Change

Allcock Tyler said the quick outcome – a majority Conservative government - was obviously unexpected, and “whether it is true or not, the perception of many in our sector is that a Tory government is not pro-charity”. However, this must not dampen charities’ willingness to speak out on behalf of their beneficiaries.

“People are concerned about charities’ right to campaign and speak out, public spending cuts that impact our beneficiaries, and whether we have genuine access to policy-makers. As a sector we have to work even harder to convince the new government of the vital role of charities in our society, and that we cannot be ignored or silenced.  

“We need to persuade them to rethink the excessive focus on social investment and contracting, and look again at the crucial role of grant funding. We also have to argue for continued efforts to support charitable giving, volunteering and social action – and tell the new government clearly what will help do this and what won’t.  What we must not do is give up.”

Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive, Acevo

Sir Stephen congratulated the Prime Minister on his re-election and said he now had a “solid mandate to deliver the real change our society needs”.
 
“While these are the earliest of days, I am especially pleased by his pledge to build One Nation,” Sir Stephen said. “This must not be only about Scottish devolution but also about bridging the gulf between the haves and have-nots, accelerating the public service reform agenda to give the poorest in our society real choice and care and supporting our world-leading third sector.

“One Nation means working with charities, campaign groups and social enterprises that bring people together, listening to them and supporting their leaders to make change happen. They must be unmuzzled and unleashed for the good of our country.
 
“Mr Cameron has a mandate to deliver and we expect great things. I look forward to recommencing our warm working relationship – and to working with new members across all parties, including Labour and the SNP, over the next five years.”

Caron Bradshaw, chief executive, Charity Finance Group

Bradshaw said: “This has been one of the most surprising election results in recent times and it will take some time for the full ramifications of the result to be known.

“Greater devolution in both Scotland and England now seems inevitable, and we will be looking closely at the possible impact of policy changes in these areas that could impact on charities, particularly on tax reliefs such as gift aid.”

Peter Lewis, chief executive, Institute of Fundraising

Lewis said that the Institute has worked well with the Conservative ministers in the coalition government and looks forward to working with them moving forwards.

He said: "The most important thing for the sector is to have ministers in the Treasury, HMRC, and in the office for civil society that really understand what charities can do to contribute to making the country a better place."