The Government has made it “almost impossible” for the Charities Bill to be passed before the expected general election in May, the Conservatives said yesterday.

Following the Government’s confirmation that two days were to be taken from the bill’s committee stage schedule to make room for other business, shadow minister for civil society Jacqui Lait, complained: "Having waited so long for it to be introduced, the Government has now made it almost impossible for the Bill to become law before the expected general election.

"After all the Charities’ hard work to get this Bill, it is unacceptable that the Government cannot find space for it. It is a result of their introducing too many Bills in the Queen’s Speech in November – a substantial amount of which are inevitably going to fail."

A spokesperson from the Home Office has disputed the Conservatives claim, saying that the bill is still on track. She said: "The Bill will continue through Grand Committee, and it has not had two days docked from its time. Further stages will, as with all Bills, be subject to the availability of Parliamentary time. We cannot speculate on the timing of the General Election."