CIPR calls for greater government transparency on remuneration of chief of staff
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has called for greater transparency from the government following revelations in The Sunday Times that Downing Street's new Chief of Staff - the prime minister’s most senior political adviser - Mark Fullbrook, is being paid through his private lobbying firm. The CIPR, the professional body representing the lobbying industry, is campaigning for greater transparency in UK lobbying laws.
A Chief of Staff is not an elected politician although they have considerable power in directing strategy and would usually have details of their salary published. Due to Mr. Fullbrook's status as a consultant contracted on secondment, those details are not in the public domain.
Someone so close to the heart of directing and influencing government strategy should not be working as a consultant lobbyist, whose job is to influence government policy on behalf of clients. If, as number 10 has suggested, Mr. Fullbrook is no longer working as a lobbyist, he should face the same level of transparency as others who work for the government.
This highly unusual arrangement does nothing but further erode trust in our political institutions and detract from the high standards that exist across our industry and the good that lobbying brings to our democracy.
- Read the CIPR's lobbying position paper
- Listen to the CIPR's latest Engage podcast on ‘the current state of public affairs’
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 in the UK and overseas 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).