THE new Minister for Civil Society was criticised yesterday over a rant advising charities not to meddle in political affairs.

Prime Minister David Cameron’s new Big Society publicist Brooks Newmark has reportedly suggested at a social action conference that not-for-profit organisations should keep “out of the realms of politics” and “stick to their knitting.”

“When they stray into the realm of politics that is not what they are about and that is not why people give them money,” added Mr Newmark during his keynote speech.

Constitutional reform group Unlock Democracy’s director Alexandra Runswick called the Braintree MP “condescending,” while shadow civil society minister Lisa Nandy branded the comments “patronising rubbish.”