KEY FINDINGS
Our 2015 report looks at how attitudes between MPs and voters differ, where voters and MPs affiliated to the same party agree and disagree, and shines a light on the attitude of new MPs towards charities. We discovered that:
- The new intake of MPs are ambassadors for charities, and have views more closely aligned with the public than those from previous intakes
- Public trust in charities is under threat, and charities need to focus on rebuilding and restoring trust
- Voters want their MPs to protect charities, believing that those who provide public services should not be the focus on spending and that charities should be able to continue their advocacy role
- MPs of all parties are positive about charities, and keen to highlight the positive contribution that charities make in communities
- Voters and MPs agree on the need to secure the future, and want to see action taken to get more young people engaged in volunteering
- The smaller parties have left their mark, with individual policies proposed by UKIP and the Green Party at the election gaining high levels of support from the public
- The need for dialogue between charities and government remains as strong as ever, and a healthy relationship between the two sectors is vital to strengthen society