CIPR slams the government’s proposals to deliver an inadequate and limited Statutory Register of Lobbyists
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has today said that rushing through a statutory register of lobbyists that is limited in its scope will not meet the government’s stated aims of increasing transparency around lobbying.
The Institute has called on the government to listen to the industry, to the select committee and to all the people who responded to the consultation calling for a universal register. They must now engage with the public affairs industry bodies in order to produce a register of lobbyists that covers “all those who lobby”.
Jane Wilson, CIPR CEO, said:
The Minister has now confirmed that the register will cover third-party lobbyists only. This is a knee-jerk reaction to a scandal involving parliamentary standards, and the consequence will be a register of lobbyists that is doomed to fail against the aims that the government put forward in their original proposal. A register that only covers a minority of lobbyists will not increase transparency around an important part of our democratic process. The Government must explain why they are taking this course of action and ignoring all the voices calling for a register of all professional lobbyists.
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).