The Liberal Democrats have lent their support to a review of the Lobbying Act in a new document published yesterday outlining their view of the voluntary sector.
In The Yellow Book of the Voluntary Sector, jointly published by Acevo and the Charities Aid Foundation, Martin Horwood, Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham, said his “first priority for an incoming Liberal Democrat government” would be to look afresh at the Lobbying Act and how it is affecting charities.
He said the party would “restate, in legislation if we have to, the critically important role voluntary organisations have to play in our democracy”.
He said: “We must safeguard that hard-won principle that if a charity finds from its work with the poor or the disadvantaged, with animals or the environment, in sport or art or local communities, that something is wrong then they have not only the legal right but the moral duty to do something about it – and about its cause not just its symptoms.”
He also said the party would look at whether it could “squeeze a tax break or a new incentive into the legislation” that would encourage this behaviour.
In the foreword of the book Nick Clegg, leader of the Lib Dems and Deputy Prime Minister, said Britain’s voluntary organisations "serve a critical democratic function by holding politicians’ feet to the fire".
"The sector must also continue to make itself heard in the debate over Britain’s future – whether on welfare reform, international development," he wrote, "whether on protecting our natural environment to promoting more diversity in our politics.
"Your contribution to public policy debates enriches and invigorates the public policy debate in our country, and it is needed now more than ever. We look forward to your response."
In the same book David Smith, a former Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate, called for the development of third sector assemblies – local government-backed bodies which would increase dialogue between councils and the sector.
“The development of a third sector assembly does lead to much more careful consideration of who can legitimately speak for the sector as a whole,” he wrote.
“Councils have a strong vested interest in the development of such assemblies, but they must be rooted in, owned and led by the sector. Some council funding is needed for such arrangements but if they are over-dependent their credibility as an independent voice is undermined. No council funding is equally undesirable – the risk is lack of any incentive for a constructive dialogue.”
And Kelly-Marie Blundell, the prospective Parliamentary candidate for Guildford, called for the abolition of prime contractors and more local-level commissioning in order to give charities and SMEs the opportunity to win more contracts.
