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Third Sector Review

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely wrong about that. Let me put it on the record again, because he was obviously not listening to what I was saying. I am not in favour of organisations being able to set up for what is called a political purpose simply to campaign to change the law. The question is what charities think when they are conducting their activities and trying to fulfil their charitable purposes—as Garden Organic was doing by supporting the hon. Gentleman's private Member's Bill and organising petitions and letter-writing campaigns. In those periods of intensive campaigning, do people think to themselves, ““Hang on a minute. Is this a dominant activity? Is the Charity Commission going to say that this is not allowed? Will this endanger our charitable status?”” My position is that they should not live in that fear and that that kind of healthy democracy—that independence and ability to speak on the part of charities—should be allowed and protected and made absolutely clear. The Charity Commission itself said, in the April 2007 document that I mentioned, that some of the wording has been confusing. That is what this is about. The hon. Gentleman has been saying that it is about politicising charities and supporting political parties. That is nonsense. He is in completely the wrong place on this, because every charity up and down the land knows that this is about its right to speak and have its voice heard.