An MP has warned that proposed new regulatory powers to tackle extremism in the charity sector will not protect certain groups, including women and LGBT people.
During a parliamentary debate yesterday on the powers of the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire Sam Carling (pictured) highlighted that proposals to enable the commission to disqualify charity leaders if they allow their charity to promote hate based on race, religion or belief will leave other groups undefended.
The National Secular Society has raised concerns that the new powers will not apply to charities which promote hate based on sex or sexual orientation, despite the NSS referring many charities to the commission for pushing misogynistic or homophobic ideologies.
The NSS briefed MPs prior to the debate.
DCMS agrees to “look into” extended powers to protect women and LGBT people
Carling asked culture minister Vicky Foxcroft if she agreed “that we should not limit the powers” to hate based on race, religion or belief.
“We often see discrimination in the form of misogyny or homophobia, and discrimination against disabled people,” he said.
He asked: “Would the Minister consider extending her proposals to cover those as well?”
Foxcroft replied that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) would “look into his proposals”.
Last month, DCMS opened a consultation into extending the Charity Commission’s powers following rising concerns about charities promoting extremism and hate – an issue which the NSS has challenged for many years.
The NSS has long highlighted how many religious charities promote hatred and discrimination against women and LGBT people. Last year, the NSS published a report exposing religious charities which promote misogyny.
“The advancement of religion” is one of the recognised charitable purposes in law. The NSS argues this should be removed from the list of charitable purposes, because it assumes promoting religion is inherently beneficial and can enable charities to promote hateful and divisive religious ideology.
The NSS has also raised concerns that the proposals make no reference to the legal duty of charities to provide a public benefit. This duty is often cited as the justification for exempting charities from most taxes.
NSS: “Government must ensure we do not subsidise the promotion of hatred or discrimination against women or LGBT people”
NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: “We are grateful to Sam Carling for raising this glaring gap in proposals to boost Charity Commission powers, which will leave women and LGBT people without the same protections covering race, religion and belief.
“Our years of research demonstrate too many charities registered under “the advancement of religion” are advancing religious ideology which is misogynistic and homophobic. This is in direct conflict with the legal duty on charities to provide a public benefit.
“The Government must ensure we do not subsidise the promotion of hatred or discrimination against women or LGBT people through tax breaks. It must make public benefit central to tackling extremism in the sector.”
The NSS has met with DCMS to discuss its proposals and will continue to engage with the department. The consultation on the proposals closes on December 23rd.