It’s just as we feared: the Lobbying Act is being used to clamp down on speech from charities and NGOs, instead of targeting big business.

In the government's own review of the ‘gagging law’, Lord Hodgson made several recommendations to put a stop to this absurdity. But those amendments have not been made -- and now another election has just been called, it’s having a chilling effect on the abilities of campaigning groups to speak out.

At a time like this, it’s especially vital for organisations such as Greenpeace -- and for SumOfUs members like you and me -- to be able to speak freely on matters of public interest, and not be gagged by a law designed to curb corporate lobbying.

Change the Lobbying Act so it regulates corporate lobbying, not civil society!

After Theresa May announced a snap general election for June, campaigning groups leant that all the work they’ve been doing since 9 June last year could be counted as ‘regulated activities’ that should be registered. Charities that fail to do so could, like Greenpeace, be slapped with a hefty fine.

Instead of being free to make sure the public has vital information on how the election issues will affect people, communities and the environment, they’re grappling to comply with the rules.

Organisations like Greenpeace are vital to a healthy democracy. We need them to hold the powerful to account and ensure a country that works for people and planet over profit.

Craig Bennett, CEO of Friends of the Earth, has called the law “overly complex” and “unworkable”, while Greenpeace UK's director John Sauven points out “The Lobbying Act skews politics in favour of corporations operating in the shadows.”

When corporations tried to undermine Net Neutrality and rewrite the rules of the internet in their favour, over 100,000 SumOfUs members came together -- and we won. Now we need to come together again, and make sure this government can't gag us with the Lobbying Act.

Reform the gagging law so it targets corporate lobbyists, not campaigning groups!

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