CIPR submits evidence to the Committee on Standards in Public Life
The CIPR has submitted evidence to the Committee on Standards in Public Life in response to their transparency and lobbying questions and issues paper.
The call for evidence came alongside the first reading of the Bill to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists, which the CIPR attacked as ill-conceived. The CIPR’s submission highlights the vital role lobbying has to play in the democratic process, whilst expressing sincere disappointment at the Government’s proposed bill which will actively reduce transparency.
Commenting on the submission, CIPR Public Affairs Group Chairman, Simon McVicker MCIPR, said:
We are pleased to have the chance to set out our views to the Committee. At the moment, lobbying is being highlighted by Ministers as a key part of our democracy and at the same time presented as a problem which needs a statutory register to force transparency. This has come about because of the high profile incidents in which the ethical conduct of Peers, MPs and others has been found wanting, which is more properly an issue of standards in public life and not about standards in professional lobbying. The CIPR is speaking out on behalf of our members who are ethical and accountable professionals and have not been directly or indirectly involved in any of the recent issues. Professional lobbyists carry out their work in plain view and support sensible measures to increase transparency and public understanding of lobbying. What is being proposed by the Government will not achieve this and risks setting this cause back.
Notes to editors
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).