Response to Government’s rejection of Lord Hodgson’s recommendations on Lobbying Act

Our statement in response to the Government's rejection of Lord Hodgson's recommendations on the Lobbying Act

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said:

'We are surprised and extremely disappointed by the Government's decision to leave the Lobbying Act in its deeply unsatisfactory state. About the kindest thing that can be said of this legislation is that it's a sledgehammer to crack a nut and much worse than that there is plenty of evidence that it is putting local charities off campaigning at all and constraining national charities from informing important public debates."

'At Age UK we felt the impact of the Act ourselves during the last General Election campaign when social care became a topic of national discussion but we felt unable to make virtually any public comment at all, however factually based and apolitical, for fear of inadvertently infringing the legislation.

'In the end the public are the biggest losers from the Lobbying Act because it discourages charities from contributing to important social policy debates on issues where they have real expertise to share - and the Act's provisions mean this is true not only during the few weeks of campaigning preceding a General Election but for a full 12 months before the election date.'

Ref: CATGJV

Media contact

Liz Fairweather; Tel: 0203 033 1718; Out of hours: 07071 243 243

Notes to editors

Age UK

We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI and our local Age UK partners in England (together the Age UK Family). We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK believes that everyone should have the opportunity to make the most of later life, whatever their circumstances. We provide free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and wellbeing, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we"). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).