A charity that publicly claimed Victorian Prime Minister William Gladstone would not have supported Ukip, was in breach of the Charity Commission’s rules on political campaigning, the regulator said today.

The charity Gladstone’s Library fell foul of Charity Commission guidance after an image of the library and statue of Gladstone standing in front of the library was used by the UK Independence Party in its Welsh Assembly Manifesto. The action was followed by a tweet by a Ukip candidate claiming the charity supported Ukip.

The charity issued a press release in response, alleging that Gladstone would not have supported Ukip and that the party’s political beliefs were “far from the ideals” of the former Prime Minister.

According to the Charity Commission, the press release sparked a “substantial reaction” via social media, with 22,000 tweets and 7,438 Facebook comments made on the topic. It was also covered by local media outlets.

The Charity Commission said that although the charity was correct to speak up about the unauthorised use of its image, it was not correct in releasing a political statement that “unintentionally drew the charity into a party political debate”.

Today, the regulator said it urged the charity to take legal advice to resolve the issue.

“Following our regulatory advice, the charity removed the press and a factual statement was published in its place on the charity’s website which clarified their position. This was also reflected in their social media postings,” the regulator said.

In a statement to Civil Society News, Peter Francis, warden of Gladstone’s Library, said the incident prompted questions on how charities can control political voices of its supporters on social media.

“A very large number of the Library’s online followers responded with some vehemence to any suggestion that Gladstone’s Library would be supportive of Ukip and the Library put up a statement on its website disassociating itself with Ukip, perhaps slightly overstepping the mark in its rebuttal,” said Francis.

“Ukip consequently suggested that the Library was electioneering during the Welsh Assembly campaign and this could be contrary to its charitable status. I, on behalf of the Library, asked for advice from the Charity Commission which proved helpful and supportive.

“The incident prompts questions as to how far a charity can control or be responsible for opinion related to politics voiced on social media by its supporters, especially when part of the objectives of the charity are to promote democracy and interest in current affairs.”

Gladstone’s Library’s objectives include the “encouragement of research, writing and debate on theology and spirituality, history, current affairs and contemporary classical literary culture”, according to information by the regulator. Its last reported income was £780,000.