Public meeting in Brighton to discuss ‘gagging bill’ tonight

A public meeting is being held in Brighton this evening (Thursday 5 January) to discuss the “gagging bill”.

Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, is expected to speak at the meeting which has been organised by campaign group 38 Degrees.

The meeting, at St Mary’s Church, in St James’s Street, Kemp Town, is being chaired by Greg Hadfield, editorial director of the Brighton and Hove Independent newspaper.

It is due to run from 8pm to 9.30pm.

Dr Lucas penned an article for The Guardian today setting out some of her concerns about the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill.

She said that the bill – known by its opponents as the “gagging bill” – was “designed to close down citizens’ engagement with the democratic process”.

She said: “By imposing a quite astonishing range of requirements on campaigning organisations in the run-up to elections, it would effectively shut down legitimate voices seeking to raise awareness on issues of public interest, whether they are on NHS reform, housing policy or wildlife conservation.

“Campaign spending limits for ‘third party’ organisations – such as charities and pressure groups – would be drastically cut and the definition of what constitutes campaigning broadened.

“And there would be new forms of regulation for organisations lobbying on issues at constituency level.

“The bill faces an unprecedented breadth of opposition, encompassing everyone from the Taxpayers’ Alliance and Oxfam to the Women’s Institute and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.

“So why is the government so determined?

“As Juliet Swann of the Electoral Reform Society in Scotland has asked: ‘What are they trying to prevent? What terrible thing has happened that they think this will stop from happening in the future? Why are they trying to fix a hypothetical situation that you can’t give me any examples of?’

“Ministers have obviously been chewing over this question and have come up with an intriguing answer.

“It is, you may be surprised to learn, to protect the Green Party’s only parliamentary seat from undue lobbying influence.

“Yes, apparently Tory and Lib Dem supporters of the bill are defending its swingeing provisions at public meetings up and down the country by claiming they’re necessary in order to prevent fracking firm Cuadrilla pumping a million pounds into Brighton Pavilion to unseat me and – of course – they would hate to see that happen.

“As Lord Tyler put it in his evidence to the civil society commission: ‘If you went to Brighton and spent a lot of money trying to make sure that Caroline Lucas lost her seat because you thought that she was too antagonistic to the oil companies, I think you should be registered.’

“Touched as I am by this sudden outpouring of concern for the security of my seat, it is, of course, complete bunkum

“Big business or wealthy people like Lord Ashcroft don’t influence politics through charities, small community groups or campaigning organisations.

“They often already gain it through family connections or social networks, or they buy it through donations to political parties.

“Or, in the case of the big energy companies, they helpfully supply staff to work in government departments.

“The provisions of the lobbying bill will do nothing to stop any of that.

“Many of the politicians currently crying crocodile tears over voter apathy or about party membership are the very same MPs who are championing a bill designed to close down citizens’ engagement with the democratic process.

“What happens over the next few weeks, during which the bill goes through report stage in the Lords before coming back to the Commons, will have major implications for the future of democratic debate in this country.

“If Nick Clegg and David Cameron get their way, the legitimate voices of the third sector will be suppressed and their power neutered.

“If they are determined to push through a law that silences opposition and destroys such a vibrant and rich civil society, they could at least refrain from claiming it’s on my behalf. Because it certainly isn’t.”

An experienced charity executive from Brighton, Ian Chisnall, wrote on his blog at the weekend: “The bill which was meant to bring an end to lobbying scandals seems destined to damage democracy and reduce our freedom of speech.”

He gave three examples of the inhibiting effect that he believes the bill will have on charities and voluntary groups.

He said: “Example 1 – A group of local churches in Sussex hold a hustings meeting with candidates prior to general elections, allowing local residents to challenges and meet the candidates.

“They have already decided that, based on their current understanding of the legislation, they will not continue to do this if the bill is passed.

“Example 2 – A charity in Brighton, which works across Sussex reducing poverty and improving health for vulnerable people and assisting people with a chaotic lifestyle in finding work.

“For many years they have engaged with MPs and councillors but have decided they will no longer take the risk of being caught up in activity that could look like lobbying.

“This means they won’t meet with candidates, councillors or MPs and they won’t allow their name to be used in any election material (as it has in the past) or photographs taken with any candidates.

“The consequence of this is less publicity for the charity and greater ignorance of these issues for the candidates or post holders, hence poorer policy decisions.

“Example 3 – A new year campaign by the Ramblers Association involved sending a personalised Ordnance Survey map to Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove, which he tweeted about.

“If this is a real map (list price £7.99) and the Ramblers do the same for each MP in the UK, the cost of the maps alone will be over £5,000.

“This single act, if an election is called within the next 12 months (assuming the coalition falls apart) would be sufficient to oblige the Ramblers to register under the new legislation, requiring them to account for all of their expenditure and all of their meetings with candidates etc.

“All for the sake of a neat bit of marketing!”

Mr Chisnall added: “It is not rocket science to work out what is wrong with this bill but sadly the government is either not listening or simply doesn’t care.

“However, it is not too late to contact your MP and raise your concerns about this, before the bill becomes law.”