Charity bosses have urged the prime minister and deputy prime minister not to water down the forthcoming public sector reform white paper, which is expected to be published next week.

Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), has written to David Cameron and Nick Clegg, and called on him to 'empower individuals and communities' and 'unleash the potential of the voluntary sector' in the proposed legislation.