Something to think about

This is a blog post by Francis Ingham, Chief Executive of the PRCA
 

Today’s Guardian front page has 16 words that instantly stand out.

“Lobbyists include in-house bank staff, public affairs consultancies, industry body representatives, law firms, and management consultants”.

That’s in-house teams (like Cancer Research UK), trade bodies (like the CBI), and anyone that gets views across to the Government –whether it be their own, or those of a client.

And let’s throw in think thanks too, because I can think of a fair few that do their best to influence public policy –and successfully too.

It’s there in print, and the Government must listen to the public affairs industry, and the press commentators for that matter,  to devise plans for a well constructed, but most of all, inclusive register. And they must do this soon.

Just because the City runs up a bill talking to Government doesn’t mean anyone has the right to condemn a legitimate process. The square mile has a voice like anyone else, and to that point, everyone has a right to lobby government. This is a fundamental right that we can’t back away from.

Because when information is in the public domain, shock stories about lobbying won’t make the front page anymore. So no more cloak and daggers “City’s lobbying bill” below the fold line.

The Cabinet Office take note, transparency is the only way we can avoid stories like this. 

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