Election Watch

The 2010 General Election is a key opportunity for CFDG to bring its members' concerns to the forefront of political thinking.

 

Contents

- David Cameron Launches the Big Society Agenda
- CFDG Member's Meeting - Q&A with Minister
- CFDG Briefings and Research
- CFDG Letter to the Coalition Government
- CFDG Political Parties' Election Manifestos
- CFDG Manifesto
- CFDG Election Debate
- CFDG Briefings and Research
- General Election Guidance

David Cameron Launches the Big Society Agenda

David Cameron formally launched the ‘Big Society’ agenda on 19th July 2010 in Liverpool. The idea behind the Big Society, which was a prominent theme in the Tories’ election campaign, is to empower communities and local groups by allowing them to help run public services in their area. In four parts of the UK, community projects – which range from running local bus services to delivering broadband - are to be given additional help from Government in the form of an expert organiser and team of civil service officials, to ensure the projects get off to a strong start and similar initiatives are encouraged elsewhere.

The Prime Minister has also confirmed the Government’s commitment to the creation of a Big Society Bank to help finance social enterprises and community groups to undertake this work. The bank, which will be funded by money held in dormant bank accounts along with investment from the private sector, is set to make hundreds of millions of pounds available to community and voluntary groups as start up funding to help them with their projects. It is expected that the first funds will be available in April 2011.

There are three main strands to the Big Society proposal: Social action, as it is hoped that it will foster a culture of voluntarism as people are encouraged to invest time in their communities; public service reform, to reduce bureaucracy and open services up to the sector; and community empowerment, as communities work together to support their local area.

Reducing the size of central Government and transferring power to individuals has been one of the Coalition’s key pledges, and the Big Society is a big part of this ‘cultural change’. In his speech David Cameron labels the initiative as ‘the biggest, most dramatic redistribution of power from elites in Whitehall to the man and woman on the street’; moving away from heavy, top-down control.  However the Government has to respond to criticism that behind the rhetoric the Big Society is simply a cover to gloss over public spending cuts.

Whilst the sector has welcomed the Government’s focus on civil society and community engagement, there are concerns amongst community and voluntary groups about how the initiative would work in practice given the scale of public spending cuts.

Full transcript of speech

CFDG Special Member's Meeting - Q&A with Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd MP

On 17 June 2010 the Charity Finance Directors’ Group (CFDG) was delighted to be able to invite members to a special meeting titled ‘The new vision for a “Big Society”: What this means for charities.’  This meeting, kindly hosted by Schroders, brought together key perspectives on the Big Society agenda, with the Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd MP, being joined on the platform by CEO of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Sir Stuart Etherington and editor of Guardian Society, Patrick Butler.

Member’s attending the event had the opportunity to put forward questions for the Minister in advance, and as promised we are pleased to provide you with an edited transcript of the Q&A session.

PDF Document Q&A with Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd MP

CFDG Letter to the Coalition Government

The Charity Finance Directors Group have sent a letter to the new Prime Minister The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, and the Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon Nick Clegg. The letter can be read below:

PDF Document Letter to the new Coalition Government

 

 

Political Parties' Election Manifestos

This week the three main political parties released their Manifestos for the upcoming general election.

The Labour Party Manifesto ‘A Future Fair For All’ was released on Monday 12th April 2010 and proposes that a Labour government will ‘invest in future growth and jobs,’ without cutting public spending this year but with ‘cuts to lower priority spend’ in the future.
 
The Conservative Party Manifesto ‘Invitation to join the Government of Britain,’ was released Tuesday 13th April 2010.  This introduces their concept of ‘Big Society,’ within which social enterprise, charities and the voluntary sector play an inclusive role.

The Liberal Democrat party manifesto ‘Change That Works For You, Building a Fairer Britain,’ was released Wednesday 14th April 2010.  This manifesto proposes dramatic tax cuts which they assure us can be paid for with savings elsewhere.  The Liberal Democrats want to ‘build a stronger society with growth that lasts, fairness and opportunity for all.’  

For more details on how the policies outlined in these Manifestos are likely to impact on the third sector, and how this compares with the CFDG election manifesto ‘A Level Playing Field,’ please see below:

PDF Document The Conservative Party Manifesto and the CFDG General Election Manifesto

PDF Document The Labour Party Manifesto and the CFDG General Election Manifesto

PDF Document The Liberal Democrat Party Manifesto and the CFDG General Election Manifesto

 

 

CFDG Manifesto: A Level PLaying Field

In pursuit of this objective we are producing the CFDG Manifesto in consultation with our members. The CFDG manifesto asks for:

  • • proportionate, effective regulation,

  • • the opportunity to deliver innovative public services

  • • a tax system that recognises how charities operate and does not unduly penalise them, and

  • • the development of a social investment wholesale bank.

PDF Document CFDG Election Manifesto: A Level Playing Field (full version)

PDF Document CFDG Election Manifesto: A Level Playing Field (summary)

 

CFDG Election Debate

CFDG held its packed Election Debate on 24th February, giving CFDG members an opportunity to ask their questions directly to leading third sector spokespeople from each of the main political parties.

You can listen to a podcast of them debate here.

Responses to Additional Questions

Response from Jenny Willott MP (Liberal Democrat)

 

Chair

Kim Catcheside, the Education and Social Policy Correspondent for BBC radio, and a CFDG trustee, chaired the debate.

Panellists

Angela Smith MP (Lab), Minister for the Third Sector

Angela Smith was elected MP for Basildon and East Thurrock in 1997. Prior to taking up her appointment in June 2009 as Minister for the Third Sector she served as:

  • - Parliamentary Private Secretary to Prime Minister (June 2007 - June 2009)
  • - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government (May 2006 - June 2007)
  • - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (October 2002 - May 2006)
  • - Assistant Government Whip (June 2001 - October 2002)
  • - Parliamentary Private Secretary to Paul Boateng Home Office Minister (October 1999 - May 2001)

 

Nick Hurd MP (Con), Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprise and Volunteering

Nick Hurd was elected MP for Ruislip-Northwood in 2005. He is a member of the Environment Audit Committee, and has served as an Opposition Whip and member of the Shadow teams for Justice, Communities, and Local Government. In 2006, Nick successfully took through Parliament a Private Members Bill, the Sustainable Communities Act, which was supported by over ninety national organisations. He was on the Board of the Conservative Party’s Quality of Life Policy Commission, chairing the Climate Change group (2005-2007), and served on the Joint Parliamentary Committee that scrutinised the draft Climate Change Bill.

 

Jenny Willott MP (Lib Dem), Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Jenny Willott was elected MP for Cardiff Central in 2005. She is a member of the Public Administration Committee and the Work and Pensions Committee. She has previously been Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Shadow Minister for Justice and Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. As Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, she oversees issues related to the Cabinet Office and also areas of policy for which there is no department with an appropriate portfolio.

 

CFDG Briefings and Research

Going into the general election we are producing a number of briefings papers on relevant issues:

Political analysis

PDF Document An analysis of Conservative Party Policy on the Third Sector
PDF Document An analysis of Labour Party Policy on the Third Sector (coming soon)
PDF Document An analysis of Liberal Democrat Party Policy on the Third Sector (coming soon)

Research papers

PDF Document Public Funding Cuts in the Third Sector
PDF Document Grants, Contracts and Commissioning (coming soon)
PDF Document Private Sector (coming soon)

 

More briefing and research papers can be found on our Research and Briefings Papers page.


General Election Guidance

The Charity Commission have issued refreshed guidance, Charities and Elections. The guidance is for use by charities during the period between the announcement of an election, and the date on which an election is held. It applies to both national and local elections. This brief guidance should be read in conjunction with their more detailed guidance on the wider subject of Speaking Out: Guidance on campaigning and political activities by charities (CC9). The principles described in Speaking Out continue to apply during an election period.