History is complicated – and charities have never been an antidote to politics
Last year a National Trust report into slavery and colonialism caused a furore, and claims that charities should stay out of politics – but, as Rebecca Cooney finds out, that has never been an option
by Rebecca Cooney
Black Lives Matter protesters throw the statue of philanthropist and slave trader Edward Colston into the Avon in June 2020. Photo by Giulia Spadafora/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Sue Tibballs, chief executive of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, says politicians should work with charities and not make them 'fodder in phony culture wars'
Last modified on Fri 15 Jan 2021 02.02 EST
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.