Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill

Debate between Lady Hermon and Helen Goodman

Tuesday 10th September 2013 Commons Chamber

[Lady Hermon]

The intervention of the Deputy Leader of the House has, not for the first time today, added confusion. We are talking about clause 26, which states that “a course of conduct” could be covered if

“it does not involve any express mention being made of the name of any party or candidate.”

Therefore a charity that does not mention the name of a party or candidate could be covered.

[Helen Goodman]

That is right.

In the run-up to general elections, voluntary organisations often send e-mails and letters asking people where they stand on certain subjects, and after receiving the answers they send another message to their supporters saying, “Well, candidate X stands for what we want and candidate Y stands against it. If you think this is a big issue, we advise you to vote for candidate X, not candidate Y.”