The Government has announced a new Civil Society Covenant. Under it, the Government will:

• “Recognise and value all those who give their time and money in the service of others, respect our different roles, and build trust and shared objectives together.
• Respect the independence of civil society organisations and ensure they can advocate for those they serve and hold government to account without fear of reprisal.
• Partner and collaborate across every department and every mission of government, working at both national and local level across the UK to deliver the Plan for Change.
• Design, fund and deliver policies and services in genuine partnership; working with mayors, local authorities and other public bodies on place-based partnerships and developing collaborative commissioning and procurement arrangements.
• Promote participation and inclusion by involving people in decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and removing barriers to democratic participation.
• Strengthen trust with open communication and sharing of information, data, and best practice, and by civil society organisations being proactively transparent and accountable for the money they receive.
• Report annually on actions to honour this covenant and the impact of this partnership with civil society.”

However, speaking to Civil Society at the launch event for the covenant in London, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy said that despite the covenant’s promise to protect charities’ right to protest peacefully, the Government was not considering repealing any recent laws that some feel have curtailed the sector’s freedom to campaign. She said the Government was “not planning legislative change in this area” but insisted it was focused on “rebuilding the civic space” and that it welcomed challenge from people like “any government worth its salt”. Whatever that might mean…

[Updated 18 July]