Post election research with MPs show their priorities for the sector

What do MPs think are the
priority issues for the charity
sector?
Released September 2017

2
What are the top priorities for MPs?
Many of the top priorities are very similar for all MPs:
• Making charities more transparent (21% of MPs say it is a top priority, and 66% a high
priority)
• Finding more funding sources (17% of MPs say it is a top priority and 53% a high priority )
• Preventing CEO pay of over £200k (8% of MPs say it is a top and 44% a high priority)
• Comprehensive training for charity trustees (1% say it is a top priority and 52% a high
priority)
• Developing codes of best practice for charity trustees (5% say it is a top priority and 51%
a high priority)
• See charts 1, 2 and 4 for more details. Chart 6 has details of the research we carried out.

3
The political divides between Labour and Conservative
Though there are a number of areas where priorities differ:
Labour MPs favour:
• Repeal of the Lobbying Act (18% vs 0% as a top priority and 38% vs 5% as a high priority)
• Preventing public schools being charities (10% vs 0% as a top priority, and 58% vs 6% as
a high priority)
Conservative MPs favour:
• Making charities more transparent (27% vs 13% as a top priority and 75% vs 56% as a
high priority
• Preventing charities from lobbying (32% vs 9% as a high priority)
• Preventing charities who receive government funding from lobbying (11% vs 1% as a
top priority, 52% vs 17% as a high priority)
See chart 3 and 5 for more detail. See chart 6 for details of the research

4
Our analysis of the implication of this research for
the sector
1. The Lobbying Act is not going to be repealed any time soon. Not only is the parliamentary
timetable stuffed with Brexit related material but there is almost no support amongst
Conservative MPs.
2. The sector is going to be under continued pressure on the subject of trustees. Both
trustee capabilities and transparency given the high level of cross-party support. At the moment
the sector’s response is unclear at best, except for the code of good governance
3. Labour MPs want, but won’t get action on private schools. While public schools are a big
priority for Labour MPs there is neither support from Conservative MPs, nor any obvious solution
4. Conservative MPs will keep up the pressure on charity lobbying. Expect continued
pressure on charities over lobbying activity, especially for those with government funding.
Conservatives just don’t like it!

5
Chart 1: top priority and high priority issues for the
charity sector
Base: 125 MPs | Source: Charity Parliamentary Monitor, Jun-Jul 2017, nfpSynergy
“As you may know, a lot of work has been done recently to create a bigger, stronger fundraising regulator for charities. In your opinion, which of the following
other issues related to charities need to be prioritised next? Please select those you consider high priority issues, and your top priority. If you do not believe
any of these issues should be prioritised, please leave blank.” Prompted question, ranked by total
21%
17%
8%
7%
7%
6%
5%
5%
4%
1%
0%
0%
19%
66%
53%
44%
33%
20%
35%
51%
30%
29%
52%
20%
4%
9%
Making charities more transparent
Finding more funding sources
Preventing CEO pay of over £200k
Preventing private schools being charities
Repealing the Lobbying Act
Preventing charities who receive…
Developing codes of best practice for trustees
Providing more support to charities…
Reducing irrecoverable VAT for charities
Comprehensive training for charity trustees
Preventing charities from lobbying
Restrict charities from delivering…
Not stated
Top Priority
High Priority
Preventing charities who receive government funding from lobbying
Providing more support to charities delivering public service contracts
Restrict charities from delivering public service contracts

6
Chart 2: MPs see making charities more transparent and
finding more funding sources as top priorities for the charity
sector
21%
17%
8%
7%
7%
6%
5%
5%
4%
1%
0%
0%
19%
.
Not stated

7
Chart 3: transparency and funding are top priorities for
Conservative MPs, while the top priority for Labour MPs is
repealing the Lobbying Act
27%
23%
8%
0%
0%
11%
4%
4%
4%
2%
0%
0%
16%
13%
13%
8%
18%
10%
1%
7%
3%
3%
1%
0%
0%
23%
Restrict charities from delivering public service…
Not stated
Con
Lab

8
Chart 4: after transparency and funding, trustee training
and best practice are high priority issues for MPs
66%
53%
52%
51%
44%
35%
33%
30%
29%
20%
20%
4%
9%
Not stated

9
Chart 5: The charity status of private schools and the lobbying
ability of government funded charities are the most divisive
issues between the two main parties
75%
55%
50%
49%
43%
52%
6%
31%
25%
5%
32%
2%
10%
56%
52%
55%
54%
40%
17%
58%
33%
28%
38%
9%
5%
9%
Not stated
Con
Lab

10
Chart 6: background, sample and methodology
• The research set out in this update was carried out as an online and paper questionnaire with 125
MPs and is representative by party and region. The research was carried out in 13th June – 19th
July 2017 after the General Election.
• We asked MPs the following question:
“As you may know, a lot of work has been done recently to create a bigger, stronger fundraising
regulator for charities. In your opinion, which of the following other issues related to charities
need to be prioritised next? Please select those you consider high priority issues, and your top
priority. If you do not believe any of these issues should be prioritised, please leave blank.”
MPs could select as many issues as they considered to be a high priority, and could pick one issue
as their top priority.

11
nfpSynergy’s parliamentary tracking research
At nfpSynergy, we’ve been helping charities’ public affairs teams to lobby effectively across the UK for over 15 years,
influencing policy that has changed lives. Our research with politicians helps non-profits inform and evaluate the way
they engage with politicians across the UK.
Charity Parliamentary Monitor: Sample of 150 MPs and 50 Peers- representative by party and region.
Celtic Charity Parliamentary Monitor: Representative sample of 50 MSPs, 40 MLAs and 30 AMs.
Parliamentary surveys conducted online and by paper questionnaire, four times a year with MPs, once a year with
Peers in summer, and once a year with MSPs, MLAs and AMs in autumn.
Over 10 years of trend data, allowing members to track changes over time.
Syndicated research: Members can access more frequent and more detailed research than many individual charity
research budgets could afford. Over 20 organisations take part in the research, meaning you can benchmark your
results against others.
To find out more contact Fiona Wallace, Head of Influencer Audiences Research, on 020 7426 8888 or email
cpm@nfpsynergy.net

12
2-6 Tenter Ground
Spitalfields
London E1 7NH
www.nfpsynergy.net
+44 (0)20 7426 8888
insight@nfpsynergy.net
nfpsynergy
nfpsynergy
nfpsynergy
Registered office: 2-6 Tenter Ground Spitalfields London E1 7NH. Registered in England No. 04387900. VAT Registration 839 8186 72

Post election research with MPs show their priorities for the sector

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Post election research with MPs show their priorities for the sector