Lord Hodgson is expected to raise concerns about the level of campaigning by charities which get a large proportion of their income from the state at an upcoming Public Administration Select Committee meeting.

Hodgson, who was speaking today at the annual Charity Law Association conference in London, said campaigning organisations were starting to push the envelope substantially: “Members of Parliament come to me and complain that charities are getting involved in areas which are the work of MPs.”

Lord Hodgson highlighted a recent proposal in Queensland, Australia, which has suggested that charities which get more than 50 per cent of their income from the state should not be in a position to undertake campaigning.

“This could create a situation where charities are being funded by government to attack the hand that feeds them.”

The Conservative peer also said that the issue of charities campaigning could confuse the public about the charity brand.

Lord Hodgson is due to give evidence before the Public Administration Select Committee next week and it appears he may raise this issue then.

Charity law firm Bates Wells & Braithwaite told civilsociety.co.uk after the speech that it has already given evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee ahead of its meeting with Lord Hodgson, saying that if the charity is operating within its purpose there should be no limit to campaigning activities.