London Mayor's voluntary sector plans part of wider political debate

The Conservative administration in London’s City Hall is set to prioritise the concerns of those in the voluntary sector in the capital, according to the deputy mayor of London, Ray Lewis.

Lewis, who has responsibility for voluntary organisations’ concerns, promised that London will become a “beacon of all that’s possible” in the charitable world, he told Third Sector magazine.

Boris Johnson has already stated that part of his role as London Mayor is to “champion and expand … voluntary sector activity”. The announcement of his proposed Mayor’s Fund for London as well as the Conservative Party green paper A Stronger Society: Voluntary Action in the 21st Century has helped to bring the voluntary sector to the fore of political debate.

The Conservative green paper, published on 3rd June, states the party would create an ‘Office for Civil Society’ with wide ranging power and wants to work with charities to sponsor a debate on whether it is possible to establish a new "social norm" about charitable giving. They also want to simplify Gift Aid to reduce the bureaucratic burden on charities.

Minister for the Third Sector Phil Hope criticised the Conservative green paper, suggesting that the impetus behind it is “about delivering services more cheaply by placing the burden on the voluntary sector”.  John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, welcomed wider political debate and the recognition of the “importance charities have to society”.

Lewis has made it clear that he and others in City Hall want to enter into dialogue with those in the voluntary sector, referring to it as the “first sector,” but support for the green paper has not been universal. Megan Pacey, director of policy and campaigns at the Institute of Fundraising, indicated that she welcomed the Gift Aid proposals and wanted the opportunity to discuss these in more depth with the Conservatives.

Lewis said that, in the case of London, a blueprint for charity in London will be available within weeks, although Stephen Bubb, chair of Futurebuilders, a government-backed fund, made it clear that he looks forward to seeing signs of implementation of the green paper “by Tory local authorities”. 

Another figure involved in Conservative third sector policy, Harriet Baldwin, a former JPMorgan managing director and Conservative Party candidate who worked with Greg Clark on current third sector proposals, has been appointed as the new chair of Futurebuilders English investment committee. She will also act as deputy chair of the board.