The minister for political constitutional reform Chloe Smith has resigned ahead of the forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle, prompting speculation that the move is related to her involvement with the controversial lobbying bill.
Smith today announced her resignation from the Cabinet alongside a fellow Cabinet minister, deputy whip John Randall. Smith, who has spent three of her four years since being elected an MP at the age of 27 as a minister, said she was resigning to focus on her first priority, her constituents.
In a statement Smith said: “I have stepped down from my ministerial post in the Cabinet Office to concentrate on the most important part of my job: being the Member of Parliament for Norwich North.”
But Smith’s time as minister for political and constitutional reform has brought her into conflict with many charities following the introduction of the lobbying bill, which many charities argue would stifle their ability to effectively campaign on behalf of their beneficiaries.
Twitter responses
Labour MPs took to Twitter to link her resignation to her recent work on the bill. MP Paul Flynn tweeted: “No surprise Chloe Smith has left to spend more time with the truth after being garlanded with the Albatross of the dreadful Gagging Bill.”
Fellow Labour MP Toby Perkins also speculated: “Very unfair if @ChloeSmithMP has carried can for shambolic #gaggingbill . It's the bill that should be sacked not the Minister.”
The bill, which will be debated in Parliament tomorrow, has long been opposed by Labour.
Charities have been ardent in their opposition to the lobbying bill, with Acevo and NCVO joining together last week to condemn the amendments made to the bill as not having gone far enough to protect charities' right to lobby for change on matters central to their core mission.
On Friday NCVO chief executive Sir Stuart Etherington said: “Much campaigning activity by charities and other voluntary groups will still be covered by this excessively bureaucratic and burdensome regime.”
In response a Cabinet Office spokesperson sought to reassure charities “that their normal engagement with public policy will not be subject to regulation, as long as it is not intended to promote or procure the electoral success of a party or candidate”.
News of Smith’s departure has been greeted warmly by the political lobbying sector, some of whom have said they hope it will wipe the slate clean for a refreshed look at the bill.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations has announced it will be consulting with members about the Scottish Parliament's own inquiry into lobbying and considerations for developing a lobbyist register.
