Commenting on reports that link Government plans to publish a consultation on a statutory register of lobbyists with the recent resignation of Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP as Secretary of State for Defence, CIPR Chief Executive Jane Wilson said:
We are extremely disappointed that, once again, politicians appear to be pointing the finger at lobbyists when the political scandal is of their own making. Adam Werrity is a not a lobbyist in the way that the vast majority of public affairs professionals would recognise. Most lobbyists have transparency as a guiding operating principle and are happy to disclose who their clients are.
We will engage with the Government's consultation on a register of lobbyists, but I believe that informal lobbying of Ministers by undisclosed interests through opaque networks of party backers, former ministers and political friends will not be eliminated by registering or regulating public affairs professionals.
For further information, view Jane's blog post How can you have a lobbying scandal without a lobbyist? on The Conversation website.
ENDS
Any queries, contact Phil Morgan on 020 7631 6926 or 07794 265 678
philm@cipr.co.uk
@PhilM_CIPR
