Dear Chloe Smith MP,
I am writing to you, as I'm sure are a number of other people, after having read a plea from 38 Degrees in regard to the recently proposed Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill. Their fear is that the "Non-party campaigning" section could mean that they are unable to run effectively in the future..
I have just been reading over the bill on parliament.uk, and as usual, things are about as clear as an foggy evening in Cornwall. Now whether 38 Degrees' fears have warrant, being a layman in these areas I do not know; but from what I have read it does seem that Non-party campaigns will definitely have reduced expenditure by quite a bit. Political jargon-reading aside, there is one thing I am very clear on, that there is a huge difference between unknown, closed, private lobby groups who work for large scale companies with vested interests; and groups or charities like 38 Degrees that are supported by the general public and who broadcast their aims far and wide.
You can most probably guess at which ones I would support, and which ones I feel need to behave more openly. At the end of the day I do not blindly follow each and every 38 Degrees campaign like many in the political sphere might believe, but I do value their existence and continued operation. They provide a invaluable service of bringing national and local issues to light that I am interested in, issues that would have otherwise -- I'm sure quite happily -- been kept as quiet as possible.
So please can you confirm that this new Bill will not hamper something that I see as a valuable service, and possibly one of the only real ways that the general public can get a partial say in the way this random country is run. If you cannot, then please modify your thinking and your approach. I am all for greater openness when it comes to government, and if what 38 Degrees say is true, this would be a move in the opposite direction.
Thank you for your time, I look forward to your reply.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2013-2014/0097/cbill_2013-20140097_en_3.htm
