The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has welcomed the restructuring of the government’s ethics framework as it confirms the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) has been closed.
The move is part of a wider restructure to improve standards and ethical conduct in government and sees the introduction of the Ethics and Integrity Commission to oversee the work of a other regulatory bodies.
However, the CIPR warns that the proposed changes still do not go far enough to improve transparency and accountability when it comes to those lobbying the government. The Institute’s Lobbying for Good Lobbying campaign is seeking to amend the Lobbying Act and widen the requirement to register lobbying activity.
Lobbying plays a key part in our democracy and addressing the lack of transparency mandated by our current laws impacts the integrity and public perception of businesses and parliamentarians.
While the Ethics and Integrity Commission focuses on immediate concerns surrounding the actions of those within Parliament and those who have recently left it fails to address external lobbying. We will continue to make the case that a broader lobbying register will encourage ethical behaviour, enhance public trust, and uphold the highest standards of integrity from lobbyists and politicians.
Alastair McCapra, CIPR Chief Executive
- Find out more about the CIPR’s Lobbying for Good Lobbying Campaign
