Widespread support for transparency in lobbying PDF Print E-mail
Tamasin Cave, 12 February 2009

Support for the regulation of lobbyists is growing rapidly. The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) kicked things off in January with a unanimous report calling for a mandatory register of lobbying activity. Its purpose is to open up the opaque and unregulated world of lobbying to public scrutiny.

These MPs are now joined by a chorus of their colleagues in the Commons and Lords as well as by charities, industry bodies and senior lobbyists who see greater transparency in lobbying as both desirable and necessary.

Asked at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions if he would introduce a mandatory register of lobbyists “without delay”, Gordon Brown’s reply was encouraging: “We have to take very seriously the problem of lobbyists and what they are doing in both the House of Lords and the House of Commons”, he said, adding that he was happy to look at the proposal.

This week, Sir Christopher Kelly, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which advises government on ethical standards, told the PASC that he supports their recommendation for a mandatory register for lobbyists. A key advisor to the PM, Sir Philip Mawer, also appears convinced of the need for tougher action.

The former Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards said at a meeting of lobbyists, MPs and Lords this week: “We certainly need to do more about the Government’s relations with lobbyists…. We cannot remain where we are.” He condemned the current self-policing system as “not satisfactory.”

The meeting organised by the lobbying trade bodies to debate the Public Administration Select committee’s proposals reached a solid, but perhaps surprising conclusion. It showed overwhelming support for the statutory regulation of lobbyists.

Crucially, key figures in the industry are coming round to the idea. Lionel Zetter, former President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, advised against taking a defensive stance: “We need to move to a position where we welcome statutory regulation” he said, echoing the views of other senior lobbyists. Jon McLeod chairman of public affairs at lobbying giant Weber Shandwick believes that regulation “is not entirely undesirable.”

Third sector lobbyists are also putting their weight behind the proposals, including the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, which represents nearly 7000 members, equating to almost half of the voluntary sector workforce. The Law Society has also voiced lawyers concerns about the industry's preferred voluntary approach to transparency.

The failures of self-regulation were noted by a number of the Peers present, including former cabinet secretary Lord Butler. Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords, Lord McNally, added that a compulsory register of lobbyists would serve to highlight bad practice.

Over in the Commons, 69 MPs have so far signed the Parliamentary petition (EDM 563) tabled by Gordon Prentice MP, which calls on the government to introduce a statutory register of lobbying activity “as a matter of urgency”. As Prentice said in a recent debate: “For Parliament and its procedures still to be shrouded in mystery is anomalous in this day and age. The climate of opinion has changed.”

Cabinet Office minister, Tom Watson, has said he will respond formally on behalf of the Government by 5 March. Ask your MP to sign the Parliamentary petition now calling on the government to introduce a statutory register of lobbying activity (links to action on Friends of the Earth's website).
Next >