Election Watch

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

 

Contents
- CFDG Manifesto
- CFDG Election Debate
- CFDG Briefings and Research
- General Election Guidance

 

 

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.

We will be asking the panellists to answer all the questions that CFDG members submitted but which didn't come up in the debate. Watch this space...!

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.