Campaigning & Elections

Legislation and Regulation

Charities Act – list of charitable purposes•A political purpose cannot be charitable•The guiding principle of charity law is that charities should be, and be seen to be, independent from party politics

Charity Commission guidance CC9 ‘Speaking Out: guidance on campaigning and political activities by charities’•political activity and campaigning are permissible if undertaken in furtherance of a charitable purpose

Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000 (PPERA)•registration with the Electoral Commission as a ‘recognised third party’

Charity Commission Guidance on Charities, Elections and Referendums

Key principles:•independence and impartiality•political neutrality•no political partisanship or party political activity

Anything else?•Representation of the People Act 1983•Communications Act 2003•Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005•Local Government Act 1986Useful websites:•Advertising Standards Authority www.asa.org.uk•Local Government Association www.lga.gov.uk

Some questions you should always ask yourself:•Is what you’re doing outside your organisation’s charitable purposes? •Would your behaviour or statement compromise the charity’s independence? •Are the campaign or the activities involved party political?•Is the use of charitable resources a proper use of charitable funds (as opposed to Party political purposes)?