The review, which will be conducted by a group of representatives from across the third sector, will examine the legal and regulatory barriers to campaigning. It will look at four key issues: charity law and the guidance issued by the Charity Commission; media restrictions including the Communications Act 2006; criminal restrictions on campaigning; and freedom of information.

Members of the group include Tim Hancock, UK campaigns director at Amnesty International, Association of Charitable Foundations chief executive David Emerson, Lawrence Simanowitz, partner at Bates Wells and Braithwaite, and head of campaigning effectiveness at the NCVO, Chris Stalker.

“I am delighted to be chairing this review into the legal and regulatory framework in respect of campaigning by charities – an activity currently hampered by a considerable amount of trepidation and confusion,” Baroness Kennedy said. “We shall examine a wide range of relevant areas and make recommendations we believe will help clarify existing guidelines.”

Ian Leggett, director of People & Planet and a member of the advisory group, said: “The group’s diversity and breadth means that it is in an ideal position to make recommendations for legal reform. There is a widely shared view that charity, media and criminal law needs reforming if the government’s commitment to the voice and empowerment of the voluntary sector is to bear fruit.”

“For too long the scale and effectiveness of campaigning has been limited by its uncertain legal status,” Leggett added. “We want to create a framework that will help to transform attitudes and practice within the sector.”

The group will report its findings by the end of April. It is timed to coincide with the government’s review of campaigning, part of the 10 year third sector review conducted by the Office of the Third Sector and the Treasury.