In response to the consultation and plans for a new statutory register for lobbyists opened today by Mark Harper the minister for political and constitutional reform, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has stated that charities have a natural right to campaign.

NCVO CEO Sir Stuart Etherington said: “Charities have a fundamental right to campaign and to lobby government and parliament. It is a vital part of our democracy.

“However we recognise that there is a need to regulate lobbying activity in order to prevent further ambiguity and mistrust in the political system.

"We think that charities should be subject to the same rules and regulations as those employed for working for multi-client agencies. It is important we do not create a two tier system.

“However it is important to strike the right balance between promoting transparency and introducing any new bureaucratic burden."

Etherington said NCVO will be consulting its members on the appropriate model in order to ensure that lobbying activity is open, transparent and consistent in order to maintain high levels of public trust and confidence.

"In particular, smaller organisations should not be dissuaded from engaging with the political system,” he said.

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