Breach of lobbying rules verdict welcome but reform now needed, says CIPR
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has welcomed the outcome of an investigation into whether the Earl of Shrewsbury breached lobbying rules and has called for "wholesale reform" of lobbying legislation. The Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL) concluded that his company, Talbot Consulting Ltd, "undertook unregistered consultant lobbying activities" on behalf of their client SpectrumX.
The legislation states a person must not carry on the business of consultant lobbying unless entered in the Register of consultant lobbyists. Talbot Consulting Ltd will now face a fine.
It is good to see the current rules being enforced but many will still wonder why previous examples of parliamentarians attempting to use their position to influence policy have not led to similar outcomes. Legislators must not act as lobbyists, and not just in the narrow definitions of the current legislation.
It is time for wholesale reform and, with a new Prime Minister in place, now is the perfect time to do just that.
Visit our website to read the CIPR's Lobbying Position Paper.
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the world's only Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners with nearly 10,000 members.
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).