The minister for civil society has said that charities must "think about their ability to speak truth to power" but should be careful to not be seen as party political.

Rob Wilson told trustees yesterday that charities are welcome in the “political space”, but that it is their responsibility to ensure that they do not become party political.

He said that beneficiaries expect charities to campaign on their behalf, although added that this is a “duty that must be exercised responsibly”.

He said: “Charities are most definitely welcome in the political space but they must be careful not to become, or to be perceived to have become, party political - an important distinction not always made clearly enough.”

Wilson made the remarks yesterday in his closing remarks at NCVO and BWB’s trustee conference. He added that this means that trustees must ensure charities have strategic planning for the “changing environment in which the charity operates”.

This view contrasts with the previous minister for civil society’s statement that charities should “stick to their knitting” and keep out of “the realm of politics”. Brooks Newmark, who held the role for two months, made the comments at a conference for social action in September.

Newmark went on to clarify his comments following a storm of criticism. In a statement released the following day, he said: “Charities absolutely have the right to campaign but they should stay out of the realm of party politics.”

In January of this year, it was revealed that Wilson had lodged a complaint against the Family and Childcare Trust, stating that it had been undertaking party-political activity on Twitter.

Speaking at yesterday’s conference, Wilson referred to a “small minority” of trustees who abuse charities for their own ends.

He said: “That risks tarnishing the reputation of all charity trustees and damaging public confidence and trust in the sector as a whole. Not something that I am willing to let happen. Stopping trustees that are in it for the wrong reasons, helps those that are in it for the right reasons.”