Voluntary organisations would be offered flexible funding opportunities under a Conservative government according to a speech today by David Willets, shadow work and pensions secretary, who indicated that the party wanted the sector to play a key role in the war on poverty.

Speaking on Compassionate Conservatism to voluntary workers and the Centre for Social Justice, Willets said that the charity sector can reach disadvantaged and vulnerable people far better than the state ever can, and that it was time to stop public sector bodies “actively trying to destroy charities that are not a pale imitation of themselves”.

He said: “To fail to support charities that break new ground would be a disaster. No longer would charities have to dress current projects up as new projects in order to apply for funding. We’ll offer sustainable, reliable funding for projects that work.”