Strange thing this latest 'lobbying' scandal.
Once again - like the last 'scandal' in March 2010 which involved journalists posing as lobbyists - this time there are no real 'lobbyists' to be seen.
Just someone posing as a lobbyist, among other things.
Tomorrow we will get the Cabinet Office report on the Adam Werritty affair and one thing is clear - Werritty was not part of the current self-regulatory process, not a member of CIPR Public Affairs, the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC), or the PRCA.
I had never heard of him before and very few have.
What this 'scandal' does expose is the need to have a transparent system. One with checks and balances.
We need to root out the Werritty's of this world and ensure that all groups - business, unions and charities - operate on the same transparent level playing field.
As a member of the APPC, my company has always declared its clients and its staff. As Chairman of the CIPR PA group I also make a similar self-declaration, as do our members.
The Spinwatch campaign calls for declaration of those who are lobbying and the interests they represent. That is exactly what I and the members of the self-regulatory groups do. I have done this for over a decade now.
The Coalition Agreement called for a statutory register. Personally I have no problem with such a move as long as it applies equally to everyone who lobbies. Any new register must have that as a key principle.
Government needs to talk to business and to charities and employee groups as well. That's how you make good policy.
What problem are we trying to solve here?? Simply to root out those who will not stand up for transparency.
Iain Anderson is Director and Chief Corporate Counsel of Cicero Group and Chairman of the CIPR Public Affairs Group
Follow Iain Anderson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/IW_Anderson
The simple solution is that those being lobbied must declare everyone whose opinion or views they have considered before coming to a decision, everything they received from them (whether it was a pen or a first class ticket round the world), and why they came to the decision they did.
As none of these MPs EVER have anything to hide, why would they have an issue with this?
For those rare cases where full disclosure would be against the national interest then their submissions can be held securely, but on record in case they are ever needed.
There's something humorous here; the author is a lawyer lobbyist, and one of the best; he was "ranked in the top [25] 2009 Total Politics Top 100 Lobbyists in Britain and appears in the PR Week Power Book 2010", and is chief counsel of Cicero Consulting, Ltd. (From his online bio.)
Moreover, his company Cicero Group is a lobbying firm:
To Anderson's credit he's in favour of the proposed lobbying register; but as I understand it, that's a voluntary register; lobbyists would not be required to register.
More smoke and mirrors, brought to us by someone smoking and holding a mirror.
The US was a beacon to the world after WW II, but now is the world reference for all the worst vices and corrupt practices as a political/economic system.
NO to lobbying and legalised corruption !!! OWS
Go, OWashington!
A politician’s promise of political propriety. Foxccinoccihilipilification.
"self-regulatory process"
Apparently we, outside parliament, are being requested to blow the whistle on anyone around us behaving suspiciously.
"What this 'scandal' does expose is the need to have"
representatives from the electorate patrolling the corridors of power, speaking freely and candidly with those in the know.
"What problem are we trying to solve here?? Simply to root out those who will not stand up for transparency."
Wave Dave.
I couldn't let it go without a Goodwin reference, Lastpost!