New MPs pledge their support for the Compact

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Following the establishment of the new coalition Government, many charities are watching keenly for the introduction of policies which could impact on the way they work. Equally many local groups will be eager to meet with their new MPs to understand how they'll be able to work together locally in the difficult economic times ahead. During the recent general election campaign, we contacted every prospective Parliamentary candidate in England to seek their views on how they will champion the voluntary sector in their constituency. Of the responses we received, 44 were from candidates who won their local seat, many of whom pledged new initiatives to enable them to work more effectively with local groups.

The responses were uniformly positive about the vital role of the voluntary sector within their constituency, with cross-party support offered on the importance of the Compact. Stephen Lloyd, Liberal Democrat MP in Eastbourne said that his support of the Compact was ‘a given!’.

Two members of the new Cabinet also responded, with Francis Maude, prior to his appointment as Minister for the Cabinet Office stating that, if elected, he “would certainly continue to champion the Compact. Conservatives have pledged to strengthen it.”

He also talked about the importance of his engagement with local charities, and said: “Much of my understanding has been gained through frequent visits to local charities and groups. Meeting service users and the staff and volunteers who make it all happen is vital for any local representative.”

Responses from the other parties were equally supportive of the role of the Compact, as well as the importance of local groups. Caroline Lucas, the first elected MP from the Green Party, said: “I think the Compact is a sound model for improving cooperation between the voluntary and community sector and the local public sector, so I am happy to promote its use in Brighton Pavilion.”

Paul Blomfield, newly appointed Labour MP in Sheffield Central, said: “We need a fresh approach to politics and part of that is making sure that politicians listen to the views of local people. Local charities and community groups are an essential way of being able to speak with people, especially those that so often do not have a voice.”

The Compact can play a vital role in helping local government and charities navigate some potentially difficult times ahead, especially with the threat of spending cuts remaining a cause of concern. The responses expressing support for both the Compact and the importance of the charity sector will come as reassurance to many local voluntary sector organisations.

We encourage local groups to use these endorsements as a starting point to enable better partnerships between the voluntary sector and their MPs. 

Oliver Reichardt, Head of Compact Voice, said: Many of the responses provided valuable insight into how local MPs will work with the voluntary sector in their constituency. We hope that this will enable many local groups to engage better with their new and returning MPs. The fact that there is cross-party support for the Compact shows that it remains an important tool to help build better communities, irrespective of who’s in charge.'

Key figures from Compact Voice’s election responses:

• 44 of the 121 respondents were elected, with 2 being appointed to the Cabinet
• Over 20% of the responses from the elected candidates were forwarded to us by our membership
• Of the elected respondents, 20 are Conservative, 14 are labour, 9 are Liberal Democratic and 1 is Green.

Elected MPs (44) - read the full text of their responses

* Names highlighted in yellow indicate Cabinet appointments.