Compact Voice disturbed by Minister’s continued silence

1 Dec 2009

Over two weeks have passed since Angela Smith MP (Labour’s Minister for the Third Sector) made the controversial decision to cut funding to the Campaign Research Programme - in breach of the Compact. Since then, despite continued and widespread efforts to try and seek assurances from the Minister that she remains committed to the principles of the Compact, no official statement has been made by her.

Compact Voice is concerned that this will overshadow the forthcoming launch of the refreshed Compact on December 16th.

Tom Elkins, Compact Voice Manager, said "At this critical time for the Compact, the Minister's continued silence on this issue remains deeply disturbing. The Compact partnership organisations are currently finalising the document and making every effort to deliver a new Compact which recognises the diverse needs of both sectors, however many stakeholders will rightly be concerned that this issue overshadows the intended launch later this month.

We cannot help but question whether it is sensible to launch the new Compact at this time without concrete reassurances from the Minister that she remains committed to it."

The recent consultation on the refreshed Compact highlighted the Sector’s support for the document. However, this recent breach of Compact undertakings has caused many in the Sector to worry that this support is not shared by the Government.

Read Compact Voice’s editorial on the recent decision.