Breach of lobbying rules verdict welcome but reform now needed, says CIPR

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has welcomed the outcome of an investigation into whether the Earl of Shrewsbury breached lobbying rules and has called for “wholesale reform” of lobbying legislation. The Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL) concluded that his company, Talbot Consulting Ltd, “undertook unregistered consultant lobbying activities” on behalf of their client SpectrumX. The legislation states a person must not carry on the business of consultant lobbying unless entered in the Register of consultant lobbyists. Talbot Consulting Ltd will now face a fine. It is…

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#EthicsMatter – How lobbying can serve democracy

As part of Global Alliance Ethics Month, Päivi Shivola, Chair of the Council of Ethics for Communication in Finland talks with Tuomo Yli-Huttula, Chair of the Lobbying network in Finland, Director for Communications and Public Relations at Finance Finland about how lobbying can serve democracy by sharing their experience in Finland. #EthicsMatter #EthicsMonth You can view the video here:  

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PRCA Welcomes Committee on Standards in Public Life Report Lobbying Recommendations

The PRCA has welcomed the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life report into lobbying. Commenting on its findings, PRCA Director General Francis Ingham stated: “This heavyweight report is a damning indictment of the Government’s continued indifference towards the mess that is the Lobbying Act introduced by David Cameron in 2014. We agree entirely with its assessment that it is ‘unfit for purpose’ – a view we have made clear for approaching a decade. “Following the David Cameron Greensill revelations in April, we called for a fundamental overhall…

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PRCA responds to Owen Paterson lobbying row

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Public Affairs Board has issued a statement in response to a dispute after the MP’s watchdog found Owen Paterson guilty of breaching lobbying rules. PRCA Public Affairs Board Chair Liam Herbert FPRCA commented: “This dispute stems from a lack of effective lobbying legislation. The row over Owen Paterson’s activity offers unequivocal proof that our lobbying laws need to be overhauled. “The professional lobbying industry – represented by the PRCA Public Affairs Board – has consistently called for new legislation that holds individuals and organisations…

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PRCA welcomes prospect of tighter lobbying laws for ex Ministers

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) has welcomed reports that Lord Evans, Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, intends to tighten lobbying rules for former ministers.  PRCA Director General, Francis Ingham MPRCA commented: “We are delighted that Lord Evans agrees with us that the revolving door of former Ministers becoming lobbyists soon after leaving office needs to be closed. We have called for this change for years, and we trust that in the wake of the Greensill revelations, the Government will now accede to this demand from…

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