Tamasin Cave, 5 August 2011

PR Week reports today that senior Tory PR professionals have formed a new group to provide unofficial communications advice to the Conservative Party.

David Singleton writes: "One PR boss present at the Tory launch event said the group could assist the party with focus groups, messaging and policy development. ‘Until now, there has been no mechanism for the party to access the expertise of those working in comms,’ said the source. ‘We just want to be there if required.’" It's understood dozens of lobbyists and corporate PR chiefs attended the event.

It's certainly true that the Tories could do with some help in persuading the public to swallow some of its policies. But what of the massive conflicts of interest from a bunch of commercial lobbyists helping with 'policy development'. Their corporate clients must be pleased.

One policy development that lobbyists are no doubt seeking input on is the proposed statutory register of lobbyists.  Most are vocal opponents of regulation and have been fighting moves that would force them to operate transparently for years.

Lionel Zetter, who has initiated the new group, told a committee of MPs back in 2008 that lobbying is  “very often… about a threat to your industry that needs to be headed off… where [companies] will all lobby very vigorously to put themselves in a position where they are successful.”

Where better to position yourselves than a riverside drinks reception with staffers from Conservative Party Campaign Headquarters.