CIPR welcomes moves to ban MPs from paid consultancy work
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has welcomed the news that a parliamentary debate may include its call for a ban on MPs holding second jobs as lobbying consultants.
This afternoon MPs will hold the emergency debate on the House of Commons standards system. This follows a vote last week that sought to change the rules on standards at the same time as a former minister was found to have breached them. There are suggestions that today's debate could include an intervention from the Commons Speaker proposing a ban on consultancy roles for serving parliamentarians, a position long held by the Institute.
We welcome this debate and encourage it to be held reasonably and away from the immediacy of recent news stories. The CIPR supports a ban on serving parliamentarians working as paid political consultants, although we don't believe a ban on all second jobs is required or beneficial. It is time for parliament and those within it who do act responsibly and ethically to accept their public reputation is not safe in the hands of those with conflicts of interest. It is welcome that parliament recognises lobbying is not the problem but, in fact, the conduct of some of its members.
- The CIPR has previously contributed to a Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) report on MPs outside interests.
- Read the CIPR's Lobbying Position Paper here.
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).