An overwhelming majority of MPs (86%) have said they support charities’ right to campaign to change laws and government policies relevant to their work. A further one in four MPs say they disagree with existing Charity Commission guidelines on lobbying which limit political activity. Just 14% of Labour MPs disagreed with the guidelines, compared with 39% of Liberal Democrat MPs.

The views of MPs back popular opinion – three in five of the general public also support charities spending on lobbying. Most MPs (87%) also felt that charities should bring important issues to the public’s attention even if that means offending some people.

“This shows that MPs absolutely back public support for the campaigning role of charities,” said Joe Saxton, nfpSynergy’s driver of ideas. “Charities, in the eyes of MPs, can be even bolder in bringing important issues to the fore, even at the risk of causing public offence.”