The Charity Commission will take no further action after assessing concerns into a claim by the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage that an anti-extremism charity had endorsed Andy Burnham.
The regulator last month assessed concerns after the Reform UK leader sent a letter to the commission alleging the Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust breached charity law by distributing leaflets in Makerfield supporting Burnham’s Labour candidacy for this month’s parliamentary by-election.
The charity said the claim was false.
Burnham won the by-election after gaining 55 per cent of the vote.
The regulator had previously closed a compliance case into the HUCT in January after the charity addressed concerns raised about its relationship with Hope Note Hate Limited, a private company with links to the HUCT.
Farage also alleged HNH “continues to be funded almost entirely by grants from the HUCT”.
The HUCT said Farage’s claims had “absolutely no basis in fact”.
Charity Commission guidance states that charities can engage in political activity and campaigning to support their core objectives, but they cannot have a political purpose and must remain independent of party politics.
A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said this week it had concluded its assessment of the HUCT with no need for further action.
“We carefully considered concerns raised with us that the charity Hope Unlimited may have funded party-political materials circulated to voters in the Makerfield by-election by the non-charitable organisation Hope not Hate,” the spokesperson said.
“We engaged with the charity, and were provided with evidence that the charity’s funds were not used in producing or circulating the materials. Instead, the non-charity appealed to the public for funds for its work.
“On this basis, we have concluded our assessment, and will take no further regulatory action.”
In a statement, the Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust board welcomed the regulator’s conclusion.
“The trust cooperated fully with the commission’s assessment, which has confirmed that its funds were used appropriately for charitable purposes,” the charity’s board said.
“The trust will continue our work to challenge hate and build connected communities.”
A spokesperson for Hope not Hate said: “Mr Farage filed his complaint against Hope not Hate hoping to distract from scrutiny of his candidate in Makerfield. It didn’t work.
“The Charity Commission has now concluded there was nothing to investigate. Hope not Hate Limited is not a charity and is not governed by the Charity Commission, it is a non-party campaigner registered with the Electoral Commission.
“Every leaflet and letter exposing Reform’s candidate to the voters of Makerfield was funded by ordinary people backing Hope not Hate. Those people are the reason Robert Kenyon is not the new MP for Makerfield.”