All,
I cannot speak as to the formalities behind the current WMUK, but a number of points do arise.
1. "In your letters of 23 November 2008 and 4 March 2009 you state that the primary purpose of setting up the company is to support the 'Wikipedia' website." if true, whomever wrote and signed off on those letters appears to have caused the initial confusion and, indeed, current problem. Somehow this needs to be retracted big time. In the WMUKv1 Memorandum we had clearly separated ourselves from WMF/WP and wrote clearly Charitable (within the meaning of the relevant laws) terms to pass those hurdles. So far as I read the discussions for WMUKv2 the MoA wasn't so clear in that respect being much looser.
2. From Re Shaw, Public Trustee v Day [1957] "(a) increase of knowledge is not a charitable purpose unless combined with an element of teaching or education," is one of their reasons for the rejection. Certainly, with WMUKv1, I undertook a number of teaching / education activities on behalf of the Chapter, including training days for the British Library et al.
3. Re Thomas's "We need either stop using the word "charity" entirely ..." I would suggest that it should never have been used in the first place. WMUK/WER has only ever been "a Charitable organisation" until such time as it may be recognised as such.
4. Regarding early comments about "going to the media", by definition once it was on this public list it is already there. Arguably the Directors and their advisors should have sorted out a position on these matters - and with the assistance of those at the AGM tomorrow - before making this public at all. Instead brewery matters come to mind.
Best wishes for the future,
Alison Wheeler