Long-time campaigner hits back at minister’s call for charities to ‘stick to knitting’ and keep out of politics

Charities should be free to campaign politically to fight poverty at home and abroad, despite an attack by a government minister this week.

That was the message yesterday from Roger James, a long-time campaigner in Bristol, who said political change was essential for charities to help the most vulnerable.

Mr James, who spent decades with Oxfam in Bristol, was responding to the call by new civil society minister Brooks Newmark for charities to “stick to their knitting” and keep out of politics.

In his first major speech since he took on the role, Newmark used the opportunity to criticise charities who “stray” out of their remit of helping people.

Asked about the ability of charities to campaign, he said: “We really want to try and keep charities and voluntary groups out of the realms of politics. Some 99.9% do exactly that. When they stray into the realm of politics that is not what they are about and that is not why people give them money.”

In comments first reported on Civil Society, he added: “The important thing charities should be doing is sticking to their knitting and doing the best they can to promote their agenda, which should be about helping others.”

His comments were condemned as “patronising rubbish” by Lisa Nandy, the shadow minister for civil society, with charities fearing a new move to introduce the controversial Lobbying Bill that would limit the ability for charities and campaign groups to influence policy making.

Speaking to Bristol24/7, Mr James said political campaigning was “crucial to our work”, adding the comments were a threat to civil society as a whole to push for change.

“It is very unfortunate that Mr Newmark does not seem to have seen the best that charities do,” he said.

“We need to solve the everyday problems those in poverty face around the world, but we also need to address the causes of poverty as well as the effects if we are to really deal with the issue.

“It is simply crucial to our work. I have campaigned with Oxfam on the issue of climate change which will be a major cause of poverty in the coming years, while trade laws, health systems and tax regimes all play their part as well. Campaigning on these issues are essential tools in fighting poverty.

“It is legitimate for charities to represent the views of their members and Oxfam publicises the fact that we campaign, so it gains support on that basis.

“There is concern over limiting the role of civil society in influencing politics at a local level. People need this democratic outlet.”

Several backbench Tory MPs earlier this year attacked Oxfam for opposing benefit cuts and zero-hour contracts, saying this amounted to being too political.

Mr Newmark later claimed he had only been referring to keeping charities out of “party politics”, not stopping them from campaigning in general. “Charities, with all their expertise, have an important role to play in helping to shape government policy. While they have the right to campaign they should stay out of the realm of party politics,” he said.