Tag: lobbying

PRCA responds to Owen Paterson lobbying row

Stuart Mitchell

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

Stuart Mitchell

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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PRCA responds to Sunday Times lobbying reports

Stuart Mitchell

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Public Affairs Board has responded to new reports in the Sunday Times relating to the lobbying industry and the role of former Prime Minister, David Cameron.  PRCA Public Affairs Board Chair Liam Herbert CMPRCA commented: “First, the Lobbying Act needs to be amended so that all lobbyists are covered, rather than just the minority covered currently by the law. “Secondly, the rules regarding the lobbying activities of former Minsters and Prime Ministers are unfit for purpose. They should be strengthened as a matter of…

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Sharp rise in unregulated lobbyists highlights ‘ethical divide’ in lobbying

Stuart Mitchell

  The number of lobbyists failing to declare Codes of Conducts on the Government’s lobbying register soared by more than a quarter (28%) between 2019 and 2020, according to a PRCA analysis of entries published by the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL). The spike follows the Registrar’s decision to clamp down on self-policed codes – a move welcomed by the PRCA in August last year. While the great majority of dedicated lobbying companies declare a PRCA Code, a significant number of legal firms and management consultancies now…

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CIPR writes to all new MPs with guide to professional lobbying

Stuart Mitchell

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has written to all 140 new MPs and the 15 former MPs who have been re-elected following the 2019 general election with a copy of our Guide to Professional Lobbying (download via this page). The Guide sets out the standards of acceptable behaviour for professional lobbyists, what MPs should expect if they are approached by lobbyists, and what action they can take if they have concerns. It also uses the opportunity to introduce the UK Lobbying Register (UKLR) managed the CIPR. We would like…

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