Saturday, September 16, 2017
Government needs to reform lobbying act
Very few people will argue with the view that charitable organisations should avoid getting embroiled in party politics but the current law goes too far in restricting the way they are able to carry out their work in the run-up to a General Election. That is not just my view nor that of the charities themselves, it is also the view of a government appointed body given the task of reviewing the Lobbying Act.
Many campaign groups believe that they will be left unable to speak out for vulnerable and marginalised people in society because the law as it his currently cast has a chilling effect on freedom of speech.
The Lobbying Act restricts what non-governmental organisations can say in the year before a general election. However, Conservative peer, Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts who was asked to look at the Act has called for its scope to be reduced to include only activity intended to influence how the public vote. He has also called for the period during which its rules apply to be reduced from a year.
He has to be right. If the law prevents charities doing their job then it needs to be changed. The Government must listen.
Many campaign groups believe that they will be left unable to speak out for vulnerable and marginalised people in society because the law as it his currently cast has a chilling effect on freedom of speech.
The Lobbying Act restricts what non-governmental organisations can say in the year before a general election. However, Conservative peer, Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts who was asked to look at the Act has called for its scope to be reduced to include only activity intended to influence how the public vote. He has also called for the period during which its rules apply to be reduced from a year.
He has to be right. If the law prevents charities doing their job then it needs to be changed. The Government must listen.
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I get the impression that the Govnt wants to silence all dissenting voices. Fixing organizations that will make it harder for them to pass brexit. Authoritarian govnt.a bit like Hitler in 1933 when he became boss man of Germany,a power grab.
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