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Lobbyists and politicians are simply too close. This has got to change Lobbyists and politicians are simply too close. This has got to change
(4 months later)
Not two weeks ago, it was mouthed to me by a parliamentarian that the promised statutory register of lobbyists was "never going to happen". Events this weekend have fortunately concentrated minds. They now all want it to happen, in the words of Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude. "Let me be clear," said Nick Clegg, "it will happen." And quickly by the look of things.Not two weeks ago, it was mouthed to me by a parliamentarian that the promised statutory register of lobbyists was "never going to happen". Events this weekend have fortunately concentrated minds. They now all want it to happen, in the words of Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude. "Let me be clear," said Nick Clegg, "it will happen." And quickly by the look of things.
Quite what will happen, though, is yet to be decided, but the initial signs aren't good. According to Downing Street the register it is planning to introduce will require any body which is paid to lobby on behalf of a third party to register, along with details of its client list. This is likely to mean a register of lobbying agencies and their clients.Quite what will happen, though, is yet to be decided, but the initial signs aren't good. According to Downing Street the register it is planning to introduce will require any body which is paid to lobby on behalf of a third party to register, along with details of its client list. This is likely to mean a register of lobbying agencies and their clients.
Just to be clear, this is NOT a register of lobbyists in any meaningful sense. It will not open up Britain's £2bn influence industry to scrutiny.Just to be clear, this is NOT a register of lobbyists in any meaningful sense. It will not open up Britain's £2bn influence industry to scrutiny.
It is no solution. It is like a mechanic using gum to mend the radiator, handing back the car and calling it fixed. And when it breaks again – when another lobbying scandal comes along – ministers will point to their "register" and say "but we fixed it guv", when it is obvious that they didn't.It is no solution. It is like a mechanic using gum to mend the radiator, handing back the car and calling it fixed. And when it breaks again – when another lobbying scandal comes along – ministers will point to their "register" and say "but we fixed it guv", when it is obvious that they didn't.
There are two fundamental flaws to such a register. First, these transparency rules would only cover a fraction of the industry – so-called lobbyists-for-hire – and then possibly only some of those. It is not clear whether lawyer lobbyists, accountancy firms and management consultants who also seek to influence government on behalf of third-party clients would be covered. If not, they're likely to pick up business from the regulated agencies.There are two fundamental flaws to such a register. First, these transparency rules would only cover a fraction of the industry – so-called lobbyists-for-hire – and then possibly only some of those. It is not clear whether lawyer lobbyists, accountancy firms and management consultants who also seek to influence government on behalf of third-party clients would be covered. If not, they're likely to pick up business from the regulated agencies.
To only target lobbyists-for-hire would be a nonsense, It would mean a supermarket, say, with a team of six in-house, full-time, and typically well-connected lobbyists wouldn't have to declare its lobbying activity. But, if that supermarket temporarily took on an agency to increase its influence, the agency would have to register its lobbyists.To only target lobbyists-for-hire would be a nonsense, It would mean a supermarket, say, with a team of six in-house, full-time, and typically well-connected lobbyists wouldn't have to declare its lobbying activity. But, if that supermarket temporarily took on an agency to increase its influence, the agency would have to register its lobbyists.
Second, the government appears to be proposing that lobbyists reveal only minimal information, merely their names and their clients. This is to deliberately misunderstand the purpose of a register of lobbyists, which is to increase government accountability. For it to be meaningful, a register must include lobbyists' interaction with officials. Whom are they meeting in government; which areas of policy are they seeking to shape; which laws and regulations do they want delayed or watered down; which taxes do they want cut; which multimillion pound contracts are they gunning for?Second, the government appears to be proposing that lobbyists reveal only minimal information, merely their names and their clients. This is to deliberately misunderstand the purpose of a register of lobbyists, which is to increase government accountability. For it to be meaningful, a register must include lobbyists' interaction with officials. Whom are they meeting in government; which areas of policy are they seeking to shape; which laws and regulations do they want delayed or watered down; which taxes do they want cut; which multimillion pound contracts are they gunning for?
By omitting this information, the government has cut itself out of the equation. For every company investing in lobbying – and it is seen as an investment, with significant rates of return – there is a corresponding official or minister who puts the interest of the few above the public interest.By omitting this information, the government has cut itself out of the equation. For every company investing in lobbying – and it is seen as an investment, with significant rates of return – there is a corresponding official or minister who puts the interest of the few above the public interest.
A register that compelled paid persuaders to operate in plain sight would not have prevented this latest scandal. That is not the point. Transparency rules for lobbyists are a part of changing the culture in Westminster that encourages such behaviour. Clearly, something is going on within parliament that means MPs and peers think it is acceptable to be paid to lobby for private interests.A register that compelled paid persuaders to operate in plain sight would not have prevented this latest scandal. That is not the point. Transparency rules for lobbyists are a part of changing the culture in Westminster that encourages such behaviour. Clearly, something is going on within parliament that means MPs and peers think it is acceptable to be paid to lobby for private interests.
David Cameron, in 2010, talked of the overly cosy relationship between politics, business and money, and of Westminster as a place where "money buys power, power fishes for money and a cosy club at the top makes decisions in their own interest". In a culture like this, it is surely easy to catch parliamentarians out.David Cameron, in 2010, talked of the overly cosy relationship between politics, business and money, and of Westminster as a place where "money buys power, power fishes for money and a cosy club at the top makes decisions in their own interest". In a culture like this, it is surely easy to catch parliamentarians out.
The problem we have is that lobbyists are embedded in British politics. It's no longer a world where deals go down involving cash in brown envelopes. Those days are thankfully gone. But as the industry has professionalised we are faced with something almost worse. A lobbying industry that is bound to our political class. They share the same world, speak the same language, help each other out. They are friends.The problem we have is that lobbyists are embedded in British politics. It's no longer a world where deals go down involving cash in brown envelopes. Those days are thankfully gone. But as the industry has professionalised we are faced with something almost worse. A lobbying industry that is bound to our political class. They share the same world, speak the same language, help each other out. They are friends.
This goes part way to explaining why so little has been done to tackle lobbying for so long. Inside the Westminster village surprisingly few understand popular concerns around lobbying. They are simply too close. Nick Clegg, the man whose responsibility it was to drive the register though, exempted himself on the grounds that his wife is a lobbyist. Clegg and Cameron are both former lobbyists. Andrew Lansley's wife is a lobbyist. David Laws' partner works in a leading agency.This goes part way to explaining why so little has been done to tackle lobbying for so long. Inside the Westminster village surprisingly few understand popular concerns around lobbying. They are simply too close. Nick Clegg, the man whose responsibility it was to drive the register though, exempted himself on the grounds that his wife is a lobbyist. Clegg and Cameron are both former lobbyists. Andrew Lansley's wife is a lobbyist. David Laws' partner works in a leading agency.
Cameron's neighbour and president of his constituency association, Peter Gummer, aka Lord Chadlington, is head of one of Britain's leading lobbying groups. This list goes on and on.Cameron's neighbour and president of his constituency association, Peter Gummer, aka Lord Chadlington, is head of one of Britain's leading lobbying groups. This list goes on and on.
Lobbyists are bound to our politicians. But our politicians should be bound to the public. If they act in the public interest, they will introduce a statutory register of all lobbyists that allows scrutiny of who is lobbying whom and what they are seeking to influence. If what we end up with is a superficial list of agency clients, we will know who really has the ear of government. Cash won't have exchanged hands, but the culture of money, influence and power will have been allowed to remain.Lobbyists are bound to our politicians. But our politicians should be bound to the public. If they act in the public interest, they will introduce a statutory register of all lobbyists that allows scrutiny of who is lobbying whom and what they are seeking to influence. If what we end up with is a superficial list of agency clients, we will know who really has the ear of government. Cash won't have exchanged hands, but the culture of money, influence and power will have been allowed to remain.
Let us just hope they don't try to fix it with a bit of gum.Let us just hope they don't try to fix it with a bit of gum.
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