CAFOD opposes Government plans to cap charity tax relief

In a joint letter to the Daily Telegraph, we have come together with four other leading faith-based organisations to set out opposition to the Government's proposals to cap charity tax relief. The letter reads as follows:

SIR – In a speech in December, the Prime Minister singled out the work of our charities, saying that when it came to the great humanitarian crises, it was faith-based organisations who were at the forefront of the action to save lives.

We are only able to take this action because of the generous donations made to us by individuals up and down the country, including major philanthropists. Those donations are borne not of a desire to avoid tax, but of the values and morals of our supporters which, to quote Mr Cameron’s speech, “make Britain what it is today: values and morals we should actively stand up and defend.”

He has the opportunity now to defend those philanthropists against the Chancellor’s misguided proposal to cap the tax relief on charitable donations (report, April 11). We ask the Government urgently to reconsider this proposal so that it tackles any potential abuse, but protects the life-saving philanthropy Mr Cameron has rightly praised in the past.

Chris Bain
Director, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

Mark Birch
Finance Director, Christian Aid

Dr Mohammed Ashmawey
Chief Executive, Islamic Relief

Simon Morris
Chief Executive, Jewish Care

Hamid Azad
Assistant CEO, Muslim Aid
London, SE1

Read the 'Protect charity donors' letter on . The Telegraph's letters page