13th April 2010

Tory pledges to clean up lobbying are woefully inadequate, transparency campaigners claimed today.

Despite the rhetoric, David Cameron’s promise to clean up the political system is not backed up with meaningful action.Although both the other main parties have signed up to a statutory register of lobbyists, the Conservatives remain committed to self regulation.

Instead their manifesto pledges that ex-Ministers will be banned from lobbying government for two years after leaving office. That is welcome but in reality it will only immediately affect Labour if the Tories win the election. 

 David Miller, from the Alliance of Lobbying Transparency, said: “David Cameron has missed an opportunity to clean up politics here. He said lobbying was a scandal waiting to happen but he has failed to do the one thing which would clean up the system which is set up a statutory register of lobbyists. What has he got to hide?

“If he means what he says about giving power back to people he must confront those lobbyists tied to his party, and make disclosure of all clients compulsory, however uncomfortable this is for his lobbyist friends.”

Despite Cameron’s stance, even members of the shadow cabinet are backing a statutory register, with shadow arts minister Ed Vaizey recently stating that a consensus was emerging that a statutory register is “ultimately inevitable”. But today’s manifesto makes clear Cameron is set against that consensus.

The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency is campaigning for the introduction of a compulsory register of lobbyists. The measure currently has the backing of the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, with the Conservatives favouring self-regulation.

For further information: Anna Minton. Tel: 07957 364358, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Alliance for Lobbying Transparency: www.lobbyingtransparency.org