CIPR welcomes report calling on Government to "toughen the system" on standards
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has welcomed a new report recommending tougher rules regulating the ‘revolving door’ between Parliament and the private sector and legal action taken against former ministers and civil servants who break those rules.
The report from the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) - 'Propriety of Governance in Light of Greensill' - calls on the Government to "toughen the system" regulating standards and ethical conduct in Government.
The report recommends strengthening the role of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) to legally enforce Business Appointment Rules on ministers and senior officials taking on certain jobs after leaving government and extending these rules to a two-year ban on employment in sectors where ministers, SpAds and senior officials have had "significant and direct" responsibility for policy, regulation, or the award of contracts.
Recent high-profile cases have exposed concerns with weak rules surrounding the 'revolving door' between business and politics that has only eroded trust in both parties - both from Parliamentarians who take on these roles and businesses that hire them. This report very much echoes the CIPR's position. This is a positive first step to address issues surrounding standards in our politics, providing greater fairness and transparency and shifting towards the open system, which will help restore trust in politics, and which our members want to see.
The public affairs sector is ready to work with ACOBA, the Government and across Parliament to ensure appointments help improve, not reduce, the reputation and professional nature of policy making.
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 over 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)