Charities should look to build alliances within and beyond civil society to protect the narrowing “democratic space”, a new report urges.
The publication, Defending our Democratic Space, published today by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation and the think tank Civil Exchange, warns of the increased threats to the UK’s democratic space, which it defines as the “space in which people and civil society organisations help shape the policies, services, laws, and culture that affect everyone’s lives”.
The report warns the threats to the democratic space are going largely unnoticed.
“One interviewee likened it to a boiled frog who fails to realise the water is slowly getting warmer until it is too late,” it says.
The report lists threats such as:
– Laws meaning that people who want to protest peacefully about a new road or library closure could be put off by the thought of being arrested;
– Ministers making widespread use of powers to make laws that cannot be amended by Parliament and receive limited scrutiny;
– Charities being afraid to speak up about problems they see due to issues including “the chilling effect of the lobbying act”, restrictions when they receive government money and “the hostile, so-called ‘culture war’ rhetoric they increasingly encounter”.
It calls on the not-for-profit sector to take a leadership role to raise awareness of the importance of the democratic space and build new alliances within the not-for-profit sector and beyond.
“The social sector would be even stronger if it reached outside civil society to opinion-formers, politicians and business people who may share some common concerns but may not yet be active in the debate,” it says.
“We know from conversations with senior figures from the worlds of business, Whitehall, journalism, the judiciary, and politics that there is an appetite to hear about challenges and solutions from civil society.
“Indeed, many are bemused that they do not hear more from major charities on the broader issues of the day.”
The report is based on discussions with charities and grassroots campaigners, think tanks, parliamentarians and others, including people across the political spectrum.
It says: “Charities and the social sector have a leading role in connecting different parties and curating this conversation because they are at the sharp end of changes and are well placed to see the bigger picture.
“But they must be bold in the face of challenge, co-ordinate their activities, and create common cause across different interests and positions.”
The report also calls for more investment in civil society organisations by charitable foundations to increase their capacity.
Caroline Slocock, director of Civil Exchange, said: “Successive UK administrations have shown a loss of integrity and respect for the law and democratic institutions, eroding transparency, accountability and trust.
“Some politicians and commentators are even portraying judges, lawyers, charities, campaigners and parts of the media as a block to democracy, rather than vital elements of it.
“We’re calling on charities to create a broad coalition of interests across the political spectrum and sectors to defend and reimagine a democratic space where people’s voices count and our democratic institutions are truly accountable.”
Sue Tibballs, chief executive of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, said: “In the run-up to the next election, all political parties need to step up and commit to policies that will protect those precious aspects of UK democracy that enable people, and those who represent them, to have a voice and a say.
“Too many people already feel they’re not listened to by their elected representatives, that their everyday concerns are ignored, and that they lack control.
“Attacks on the ability of charities to campaign and raise issues with the government or restrictions on the right to peaceful protest can only make this worse.”