Exclusive: Letter Urges Consultation on Charity Commission’s New Powers
Several prominent civil society organisations have called on the government to engage in consultation with the sector before implementing new powers for the Charity Commission. These organisations warn that the proposed measures risk "suppressing legitimate advocacy" amid growing pressures on civic space.
The letter, addressed to culture secretary Lisa Nandy, was signed by leaders from some of the UK’s largest civil society bodies, including faith-based and community organisations. It cautions that the proposed social cohesion measures could result in the "suppression of lawful advocacy, campaigning and community engagement."
Signatories include representatives from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Muslim Charities Forum, Quakers in Britain, and Oxfam, among others. The letter expresses concern over a government proposal to broaden the grounds on which organisations could be reported for extremism.
"In the absence of clear safeguards and well-defined thresholds, the proposed expansion of the Charity Commission’s powers to remove trustees and close organisations, could be applied in ways that mischaracterise legitimate civil society activity," the letter stated.
"This, in turn, may contribute to the suppression of lawful advocacy, campaigning, and community engagement, particularly for organisations working on sensitive or contested issues, including those led by or representing diverse communities."
The letter arrives against a backdrop of rising race and religious hate crimes in the UK in recent years and follows the government’s recent adoption of a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hostility.
In the policy paper Protecting What Matters, published last month, the government identified technological, demographic, and economic changes, alongside increased extremism and foreign influence, as factors placing the UK’s social cohesion "under strain." The paper described social cohesion as a "key tool of national resilience" in confronting a "more uncertain world."
Proposed solutions include increased investment in local communities, the development of a cross-government integration strategy, and efforts to combat hate and discrimination. The policy paper outlined an £800 million investment over ten years targeting 40 areas in England where social cohesion is under pressure, as well as £11.5 million allocated to local partnerships.
However, civil society organisations have expressed concern that the proposed measures, which would empower the Charity Commission to address extremist abuse by extending its ability to suspend trustees and close charities, could inadvertently "contribute to the suppression of lawful advocacy."
Fadi Itani, chief executive of the Muslim Charities Forum, commented:
"There must be zero tolerance for hate and unlawful conduct. But unclear or overly broad powers risk deepening the chilling effect across civil society, silencing legitimate advocacy at the very moment it is needed most."
The letter highlights that environment, Muslim-led, and racial justice organisations already face disproportionate scrutiny and heightened regulatory pressure. These groups are also subject to reputational attacks that marginalise diverse voices and pose existential threats to their operations.
The organisations call for a transparent consultation process with the sector and stress the importance of maintaining regulatory independence.
Paul Parker, recording clerk at Quakers in Britain, stated:
"It’s vital that government strikes the right balance between suppressing hatred and allowing, even welcoming, dissenting voices in the public square. Sadly this measure risks imposing yet another constraint on civil society’s ability to speak out, and I urge the government to think again."
Since October 2023, the Charity Commission has opened over 400 regulatory cases related to hate speech, with nearly 70 cases referred to the police for potential criminal offences.
A government spokesperson responded by affirming that the proposals would not undermine "legitimate civil society activity," noting that the commission’s powers include safeguards such as rights of appeal.
"Charities are the lifeblood of our communities, and the new proposals are designed to protect the vast majority of charities who are doing good. Where individuals use charitable status to promote violence or hatred, the Charity Commission must have the powers to act quickly and decisively to protect public trust in the sector as a whole," the spokesperson said.
