Charities claim the UK government is trying to gag them - ministers say they're looking after the public purse. Who is right?
Should charities which receive government funding be allowed to campaign against policies they don’t agree with?
- Yes
- 107
- No
- 30
There was fury across the third sector this week after it was announced that the UK government is preparing to slap what has been calleda “gagging order” on charities.
Ministers have decreed that all Whitehall departments must include a clause when grants are given out to charities which stipulates the money must not be used to campaign against or lobby the government.
This has been widely criticised as an attempt to silence charities which have been critical of, for example, Tory austerity policies.
A group of 130 charities, including the likes of Oxfam and Save The Children, has opposed the plans, as has the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
However, the Tories are sticking to their guns, saying that giving cash which is used to try to influence policy amounts to “government lobbying government”, which represents a waste of public cash.
So, who is correct?
Should charities which receive government funding be allowed to campaign against policies they don’t agree with?
Vote now and contribute to the debate by leaving a comment.
