Welcome to the website of the Public Affairs Group of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Menu
About
The Public Affairs Group is a specialist sector group of the CIPR. It aims to represent the membership of the group, to facilitate networking and to provide a forum for the exchange of information, ideas and best practice.
Who are CIPR Public Affairs Group members?
CIPR Public Affairs Group members are communication professionals who have regular dealings with Government or the institutions of Government in its very widest sense. This can be at local government level, at Westminster or Whitehall, at the European Union, or in Belfast, Edinburgh or Cardiff. Members can be in-house, consultancy-based or freelance.
CIPR PA Group members' dealings with government are not restricted to 'lobbying', but embrace all aspects of public affairs and political relations. Our members can include those who:
- work for government agencies
- write about government
- work for or provide services to government
- work for political parties.
The background and skills of members include public relations and communications, journalism and the law.
The Group is strongly cross party and does not seek to take partisan positions on political issues. Our Patrons and Members of our Executive Committee encompass people who are members of all the main UK political parties as well as those of no party.
Members of the CIPR Public Affairs Group must also be members of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Members of the Group are expected to abide by a Code of Conduct, agreed by members at the 2003 AGM.
What are the benefits of membership
The Group is strongly cross-party and aims to facilitate Member meetings and receptions under the 'Chatham House Rule' with senior speakers. In the last few years the group has hosted meetings with, for example: David Cameron MP, Nick Clegg MP, Geoff Hoon MP, Sir Bob Worcester, Howell James, Lynton Crosby, Sir Philip Mawer, Michael White, Lord Puttnam, Lord McNally, Sir Bob Phillis and Alan Rusbridger.
The Group holds three keynote annual events - the summer reception, the annual lunch and the annual lecture. The summer reception is always strongly represented by all parts of the industry and the annual lunch is held at the Members' Dining Room in the House of Commons.
The Group also organises regular trips - including in the last few years trips to Brussels and Edinburgh, which involved meeting a range of senior politicians and looking at the workings of government.
