10 October 2014 — 38 Degrees
The gagging law is now in force. [1] Whether you’re new to 38 Degrees, or were part of the fight against the law, it’s going to affect us all. So, I wanted to give you an update about what it means for 38 Degrees in the coming months.
There’s no doubt about it, the gagging law is an attack on freedom of speech. [2] Even though 38 Degrees is independent of all political parties, we face restrictions on our campaigning between now and the election next May.
But I’m approaching the next few months with hope, not fear.
38 Degrees members voted to decide how to respond to the gagging law. There is no way we want to stop campaigning about the issues we care about. Campaigns like protecting our NHS, cracking down on tax dodging or stopping TTIP must continue. [3]
I’ve taken advice from specialist lawyers to find ways we can keep campaigning. The aim is to increase the impact of campaigns for a fairer, more democratic UK, without getting trapped by the new law. I think we can just about do it.
So here’s a list of the main things that will ensure 38 Degrees keeps having an impact. You may have noticed some of the changes already.
• Supporting the local 38 Degrees groups springing up around the UK, in towns and cities from Stroud to Glasgow. Imagine what we can do together when there are hundreds more local 38 Degrees groups across the country.
• Giving 38 Degrees members the power to start their own petitions and run their own campaigns.We’ve expanded the “Campaigns By You” area of the website, and more 38 Degrees members are winning brilliant campaigns to save their local libraries and hospitals. [4]
2. 38 Degrees is running more campaigns not caught by the gagging law – for example because they are targeting corporations, quangos, councillors or MEPs rather than Westminster politicians.
3. We are continuing to run lean, efficient campaigns. The tight spending restrictions make it even more important that every penny goes as far as possible. That has always been the 38 Degrees approach to spending money.
So that’s the plan as it stands. I think it’s good news, because most of the things we are doing to keep going despite the gagging law will also help us win campaigns together.
One final thing. 38 Degrees wouldn’t have got this far without the 8,000 members who make a monthly donation. [6] That money means we can plan ahead. It means the office can print posters, send out leaflets, and build new websites to help set up local groups.
When the staff team sits down with a calculator to work out what we can afford to spend on a campaign, we can make bigger and better plans if we know how much money is coming in.
So, if you were willing to consider chipping in a couple of pounds each week, I’d be hugely grateful – and I can promise you it will make a huge difference. You can set up a secure direct debit by clicking here:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/gagging-law-dd
Thank you for being part of 38 Degrees. There’s no way we’ll let the gagging law stop us. I promise that 38 Degrees will continue to run the campaigns which you and other 38 Degrees members vote for. When politicians use things like the gagging law to try to shut us up, it just proves we’re making a difference.
Thanks for everything you do,
David Babbs
Executive Director, 38 Degrees
PS: A few 38 Degrees members have asked me, who is responsible if 38 Degrees gets ‘caught’ breaking the gagging law. That would be me, as Executive Director! There’s no risk to individual 38 Degrees members. The lawyers should keep us on the right side of the law. But to be honest, I’d be happy to go to court to defend the right of 38 Degrees members to campaign if that’s what it takes.
PPS: I’d be interested to hear your thoughts about all this. I’ve posted a version of this email on our website – please leave comments there so that I can read them and other 38 Degrees members can join in the conversation too: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/gagging-law-update
NOTES
[1] 38 Degrees website: The Gagging law: what we did together:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/02/06/the-gagging-law-what-we-did-together/
[2] For more information on the Lobbying Act, more commonly known as the gagging law, see for example:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/28/lobbying-bill-passes-house-lords
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23808996
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/01/20/the-lobbying-bill-what-should-mps-do-this-wednesday/
http://www.scriptonitedaily.com/2014/01/29/the-government-just-passed-a-gagging-law-to-outlaw-critics-ahead-of-2015-elections/
[3] 38 Degrees website: results of the poll:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/02/11/poll-results/
[4] You can start your own campaign on Campaigns by You now:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/
[5] 38 Degrees website: more information on the Matalan campaign:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/08/04/matalan-day-of-action/
[6] 38 Degrees donations policy and audited accounts:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/pages/donations-to-38-degrees
38 Degrees is funded entirely by donations from thousands of members across the UK. Making a regular donation will mean 38 Degrees can stay independent and plan for future campaigns. Please will you chip in a few pounds a week? https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/start-a-direct-debit
The New Dark Age 
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