Nearly three-quarters of the public and two-thirds of MPs think that charity fundraising should be regulated more tightly, according to a survey published by nfpSynergy.
A poll of 150 MPs from across all of the major parties conducted by the sector consultancy found that some 63 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement “I think we need tighter regulation of charity fundraising”.
The data, taken from Charity Parliamentary Monitor in October and November 2015, also showed that 49 per cent of MPs favoured tighter regulation of charity fundraising, even if it meant that charities raised less money as a result.
The report showed that the best part of half of MPs said they “find it harder to trust” charities as a result of the media scandals over the summer, with this feeling being distinctly more prevalent amongst Conservative MPs than any other party. 66 per cent of Conservative respondents said they had lost trust in charity fundraising, compared to just 16 per cent of Labour respondents and 27 per cent of SNP respondents.
Conservative MPs are also less likely to “support charity campaigns in Parliament in the future” as a result of the summer’s media coverage according to the survey, with 41 per cent of Tories agreeing with that statement, compared to just 7 per cent of Labour respondents.
The survey data, published in a free report in late December, also shows that 76 per cent of some 1,000 British adults surveyed said that charity fundraising regulation needed to be tighter. 71 per cent of the public also said that the sector needed tighter regulation, even if it meant that charities raised less money as a result.
Only 30 per cent of the public surveyed felt that charities have “done a good job of defending and explaining their fundraising practices” in light of the negative media coverage over the summer. By comparison, only 7 per cent of Conservative MPs answered the survey in the same way, compared to 46 per cent of Labour and 40 per cent of SNP respondents.
Tim Harrison, director of tracking research at nfpSynergy (pictured), said: “It’s worrying to see that recent media coverage of fundraising scandals has had such a negative impact on how MPs see charities. Public trust in charities has fallen this year, and sadly we have only ourselves to blame. It’s now clear that MPs from all parties are keen to respond to this by backing a crackdown on invasive fundraising practices.
“Charities looking to campaign in Parliament must show that they are transparent, responsible and well-run if they are to earn back the trust of MPs. As for charity fundraising teams, it’s time to accept that new regulation is on its way and prepare to phase out any practices that the public find particularly objectionable.”
