The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has published a new white paper calling on the Ethics and Integrity Commission to go further in its recommendations than its predecessor, the Committee on Standards in Public Life did as part of its review of Westminster’s lobbying laws.
The paper – Easy Wins, Empty Gains – examines each of the nine recommendations on lobbying reform made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in their 2021 Upholding Standards in Public Life – Standards Matter 2 review. It assigns a red, amber, or green rating to each recommendation depending on how effective it would be at delivering transparency. Only four of the nine recommendations are rated as green. The paper is published as the Ethics and Integrity Commission is undertaking its lobbying, disclosure and access to government review, as instructed by the government.
The paper forms part of the CIPR’s continued campaign to improve transparency in Westminster’s lobbying laws and follows new polling that reveals an overwhelming support for the Institute’s position from the industry.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life was replaced by Ethics and Integrity Commission in 2025.
This review presents a unique opportunity to bring about real and meaningful change to Westminster’s ineffective lobbying laws. We have been encouraged in our correspondence with the Ethics and Integrity Commission and hope that this paper demonstrates the importance of bringing about the wholesale changes needed to deliver real and effective change. Treating the recommendations from five years ago as a solution is not the answer.
Alastair McCapra, CIPR Chief Executive
- Find out more about the CIPR’s Lobbying for Good Lobbying Campaign
- Download the CIPR’s new white paper, ‘Easy Wins, Empty Gains’
