Charities have increasingly been criticised for the tone of their campaigns by politicians, NGO umbrella body Bond has warned.
Its report published today says that while governments and parliamentarians have long criticised charities for being too political, “the focus has been on the tone of charity campaigns as much the issues or policies they address” over the past year.
The report gives the example of RSPB apologising after publishing a social media post that called three government ministers “liars”, which was criticised by MPs and led to the Charity Commission opening a compliance case.
Bond’s report also says that migrants’ rights charities have come under particular pressure as the previous government pushed through anti-migration policies.
It adds that recently introduced regulation such as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023 include “a threat to people’s rights” to protest.
Tone of campaigns not regulated
The report notes that Commission chair Orlando Fraser has repeatedly stressed that charities should not shy away from addressing difficult or controversial issues in their campaigns.
However, it also mentions that Fraser urged charities to avoid “inflammatory language”, “reduce the heated frenzy of aggressive debates” and “use their voices with kindness, respect and tolerance” in an article last year.
The report says: “While the issues a charity chooses to campaign on is regulated by charity law, the tone a charity chooses to take when campaigning is not.”
‘Government must act now’
Rowan Popplewell, policy manager on civic space at Bond, said: “The UK’s global standing was damaged last year when our civic space was downgraded by international experts and this review confirms a continuing decline.
“The excessively long sentences handed out to protesters only last week show how this issue continues to be a concern, despite the change in government.
“The new government must act now to halt democratic backsliding here in the UK. Repealing anti-protest laws and supporting public scrutiny and debate are crucial steps to help civil society flourish and restore our international reputation.”
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