How HOPE not hate (the charity) is able to campaign against Reform

Here's how to be a left-wing lobbyist with government funding!

This week, HOPE not hate has been busy hounding Reform ahead of the local elections. On X it posted:

Replies were very conveniently turned off (have you noticed how many left-wing politicians now resort to this, incidentally? Ahem Sadiq Khan).

In this piece I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty of HOPE not hate’s profile of Reform candidates, who may, for all I know, have unsavoury views. I don’t want to fall into that trap (“OH SO YOU’RE DEFENDING THEM, ARE YOU?!”) which groups like HOPE not hate use to point the finger at others, and keep criticism away from their own activities.

Rather, I want to explore why HOPE not hate is able to campaign against Reform at all…

… as well as the Conservatives:

After all, HOPE not hate is registered as a charity (one that received £141,380 from the Government under Boris Johnson)…

… and the Charity Commission makes clear that:

Charities are required to be independent and cannot have political purposes, and this is important for public trust in charities. As such, charities must never stray into party politics – they must never promote, or be seen to promote, a political party or candidate.

Obviously HOPE not hate doesn’t adhere to these rules. How does it get away with it?

Well, it’s very simple. HOPE not hate has a charity wing, and a private wing (“HOPE not hate Limited”), and the private wing receives grants from HOPE not hate Charitable Trust.

I personally think this is a very cheeky set up. It means that HOPE not hate isn’t breaking any charity rules, even though it’s using charity money to “stray into party politics”.

Unfortunately HOPE not hate is far from the first organisation using this technique (charitable funds poured into an arm that’s used for Far Left lobbying). I shall highlight more examples as and when.

More:

"Who Funds You?"💳👁️ | HOPE not hate