Gagging Law

[Rincewind]

Don't know what anyone's else though ts are but there are plans under way to prevent organisations and charity groups from speaking out on issues such as the NHS a year before an election from 2014. I received a link to send an email to my MP and was taken to a ready written one for Jon Ashforth. I added something about what I do and my thoughts and sent it. The Email was from 38 Degrees.

I can post the link if anyone wants it but can't say if it will take you to your MP.

 

Would this not go against freedom of speech? The email does say the report is not clear on how this would be implemented and would need further study. Maybe if JA replies he will clarify it.

 

This will effect everyone whether your views are left or right.  I am concerned as to how this could stop anyone talking out against anything from the environment to foreign policy. But as I said the details are unclear atm. It is only a draft but it seems they may want to sneak it in.

 

Quote

I'm afraid it's really bad. The proposed gagging law would have a chilling effect on British democracy and our right to speak up on issues that matter to us.

The draft law could effectively stop organisations like 38 Degrees from speaking out for the whole year before a general election. From May 2014, we would be banned from holding politicians and political parties to account in ways we do all the time at present. [2]

Community groups, charities and campaigning organisations would all be hit. On the big issues of the day – whether or not to go to war, the future of our NHS, the environment, welfare, immigration, etc – we'd all be gagged.

Why are they proposing this? It's hard to say for sure. Maybe it's an unintended consequence of a badly written draft law. Or maybe it's a deliberate attempt by politicians to silence their critics.

Either way, they're trying to rush it through. MPs have their first chance to debate it this coming Tuesday, with crunch votes lined up for soon after that. [3]

Please can you help stand up for democracy and send an urgent email to your MP now?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/gagging-bill-MPs

 

This is a link to their news page and other links to other stories.

 

http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/

[MikeyT]

I thought this was about a very, very different subject.

[Rincewind]

I thought this was about a very, very different subject.

Thought somebody might. I've edited and added a link.

[Guest MattP]

Well it's a good job DNO isn't political or show any bias one way or the other to the left or right.

Can see why it's been done though, charities now seem to especially want to flash their political views and when they are getting public funding and donations they get often for tax reasons it isn't right.

It's bullshit to say it's anti freedom of speech, you can still go and say what you want about the NHS. You just can't through your charity.

[Rincewind]

Well it's a good job DNO isn't political or show any bias one way or the other to the left or right.

Can see why it's been done though, charities now seem to especially want to flash their political views and when they are getting public funding and donations they get often for tax reasons it isn't right.

It's bullshit to say it's anti freedom of speech, you can still go and say what you want about the NHS. You just can't through your charity.

I don't think I have an answer to this.

 

They are not a charity either. They are a news agency. Would you want the Mail gagging?

[MooseBreath]

Only affects organisations who spend more than £380,000 in the year campaigning on behalf of a political party. I'd hope there aren't any charities around who are spending that much on directly promoting one party over another. The only problem I can see here is if a very large charity runs an innocuous campaign which happens to align so closely to one of the parties that is effectively becomes support for that party. I'm struggling to think of many issues large enough for a charity to spend over £380k in a year on it, yet still narrow enough for it to be easy to see which political party the charity is aligned with.

[Guest MattP]

I don't think I have an answer to this.

They are not a charity either. They are a news agency. Would you want the Mail gagging?

So DNO don't come under these new laws then?

[ADK]

Democracy really is a shit form of government isn't it?

[Guest MattP]

Democracy really is a shit form of government isn't it?

 

Not really, did you see what happened on Thursday night?

[ADK]

Not really, did you see what happened on Thursday night?

 

It's a start I suppose.

[MooseBreath]

Democracy really is a shit form of government isn't it?

What does this have to do with democracy?

[Rincewind]

So DNO don't come under these new laws then?

Indirectly. The law prevents MP's of all parties being criticised regarding policies and actions by groups other than politicians. These groups may be campaigning for increased funding in the NHS for a baby care ward,abuse in care homes and pointing out flaws in policies and what has resulted from them.

The majority of people working for charities do not care much for politics they care about the cause and about the people they help.

With the gagging law they will not be able to go to any newspaper and say 'this is happening and these people are suffering can you tell the public about it?

The politicians will say 'oh no the general public must not hear about this until after the election.' Or words to that effect.

 

Free speech applies to views you do not agree with as well as the ones that you do.

[AoWW]

Hmm, I can think of a long list of those I'd like to gag. 

[MikeyT]

Hmm, I can think of a long list of those I'd like to gag. 

Ditto!

[MooseBreath]

Indirectly. The law prevents MP's of all parties being criticised regarding policies and actions by groups other than politicians. These groups may be campaigning for increased funding in the NHS for a baby care ward,abuse in care homes and pointing out flaws in policies and what has resulted from them.

The majority of people working for charities do not care much for politics they care about the cause and about the people they help.

With the gagging law they will not be able to go to any newspaper and say 'this is happening and these people are suffering can you tell the public about it?

The politicians will say 'oh no the general public must not hear about this until after the election.' Or words to that effect.

Ken, with all due respect, everything you've said is is completely false. Why don't you practice what you preach and actually read what the bill is about from official sources instead of allowing yourself to be influenced by some dodgy blogger.

[Zingari]

What's actually wrong with a charity criticising government policy ?

Why is it any different to the CBI or the church of England ?

What are they so scared of ?

[Guest ttfn]

This has got TBJS written all over it.

[Rincewind]

I Googled TBJS and one result came up with this.

not sure ttfn meant this.

 

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=TBJS

[Guest ttfn]

I Googled TBJS and one result came up with this.

not sure ttfn meant this.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=TBJS

. So apt.

[Webbo]

What's actually wrong with a charity criticising government policy ?

Why is it any different to the CBI or the church of England ?

What are they so scared of ?

If you are donating money to the RSPCA in the hope that the money will be used to treat sick animals you don't want that money spent on some political campaign that's only intention is to embarrass the govt.

The CBI isn't funded by taxpayers, it isn't a charity and it's funded by it's members.

[Zingari]

If you are donating money to the RSPCA in the hope that the money will be used to treat sick animals you don't want that money spent on some political campaign that's only intention is to embarrass the govt.

The CBI isn't funded by taxpayers, it isn't a charity and it's funded by it's members.

Yes but the RSPCA aren't likely to campaign against the government  about anything political are they?

Do you know of any instances of this sort of misuse ?

They might try to influence them against a return to foxhunting or even about horseracing etc , but what's wrong with that? 

Surely it's nothing to do with taxpayers money , it's donations from the public , and if the donating public don't like what the RSPCA are lobbying  the government for,  they can easily  stop making contributions.

 

My point is , What are they so scared of ? Is this new legislation really so needed?

Has any previous governments been rocked to it's foundations by a bit of flak from a charity ?

 

 

Why for example shouldn't a homeless charity bring to the fore problems caused or exacerbated by gov. decisions?

Charities aren't just there to throw money at existing problems . They have a role to play in stopping the problems being created by bad decisions or advising on how to improve the situation. 

[Webbo]

 

Yes but the RSPCA aren't likely to campaign against the government  about anything political are they?

Do you know of any instances of this sort of misuse ?

They might try to influence them against a return to foxhunting or even about horseracing etc , but what's wrong with that? 

Surely it's nothing to do with taxpayers money , it's donations from the public , and if the donating public don't like what the RSPCA are lobbying  the government for,  they can easily  stop making contributions.

 

My point is , What are they so scared of ? Is this new legislation really so needed?

Has any previous governments been rocked to it's foundations by a bit of flak from a charity ?

 

 

Why for example shouldn't a homeless charity bring to the fore problems caused or exacerbated by gov. decisions?

Charities aren't just there to throw money at existing problems . They have a role to play in stopping the problems being created by bad decisions or advising on how to improve the situation. 

 

How would you feel if a charity you donated to started campaigning for the Conservatives?

[Zingari]

How would you feel if a charity you donated to started campaigning for the Conservatives?

I don't think charities are campaigning for particular parties ,

They might be critical of them for certain issues , but i don't remember seeing "Vote Conservative/Labour" in any charity shop 

 

Perhaps they do 

[ADK]

I don't even know what this law is about. I can't actually find the details anywhere, just a couple of far-left websites saying how the guvmunt want to ban free speech please spam your local mp with this copy paste email.

 

Maybe someone could do better and find a link to the actual law?

[Webbo]

I don't even know what this law is about. I can't actually find the details anywhere, just a couple of far-left websites saying how the guvmunt want to ban free speech please spam your local mp with this copy paste email.

 

Maybe someone could do better and find a link to the actual law?

It's part of the govts lobbying legislation. As usual the left are distorting the facts to portray themselves as victims.