15 January 2021
The Guardian, 15 January 2021.
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"Charities are facing increased hostility from politicians and the media, with some in danger of being reduced to “fodder for phoney culture wars,” according to a leading campaigning group.
The Sheila McKechnie Foundation said its annual survey of campaigners showed that nearly two-thirds thought politicians were becoming increasingly negative and less tolerant towards charities which actively fight for social justice.
It said the hostile political environment felt by many included politicians “shutting down channels of communication, and attacking campaigners and their allies as a threat to the common good”.
Examples included the bitter criticism of the National Trust by the so-called Common Sense group of Tory MPs for publishing a report into historical slavery links at some of its country house properties. The MPs accused the trust of pursing a Marxist, “woke” agenda.
Also cited was Priti Patel’s targeting of “do-gooders” and “lefty” lawyers in a speech at Tory party conference in October, despite Law Society complaints that the home secretary’s earlier comments about “activist lawyers” had led to a racist assault on an immigration lawyer."
Source: Politicians and media getting more hostile towards charities, poll finds (The Guardian, link)
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