Watchdog proposes public declaration for all lobbying activity

• All lobbying of government ministers, aides, and senior officials should be publicly declared.
• A new register would highlight lobbyists, their policy aims, and government meetings.
• The overhaul aims to address loopholes in current lobbying regulations.
• Recommendations include declaring informal communications and increasing civil penalties for non-compliance.
• The proposals were welcomed by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

A significant shake-up of transparency laws has been proposed by the government's ethics watchdog, calling for all lobbying of government officials to be publicly declared. The review, led by Doug Chalmers, head of the ethics and integrity commission, recommends the creation of a new register that would detail who is lobbying, which policies they aim to influence, and whom in government they are meeting.

This overhaul would represent a substantial departure from the current system, which only covers a small portion of lobbying activities conducted by consultants and lacks transparency regarding the methods of engagement. The review was initiated by Keir Starmer in the wake of the Peter Mandelson affair. The proposed changes aim to close existing loopholes, such as those exempting VAT-exempt lobbyists or 'incidental' communications with ministers.

Among the key recommendations are rules requiring any individual or organization conducting lobbying to register, disclosing communications with special advisers and other senior government advisors, and declaring informal channels like WhatsApp messages and meetings at party conferences. The report also suggests developing an AI-powered platform for easy searching of the register and mandating that ministers and officials decline meetings with unregistered third parties.

Alastair McCapra, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, welcomed the proposals, stating they would "fundamentally reshape the relationship between lobbyists and Westminster" and bring much-needed transparency to the policymaking process. He highlighted that public trust has been eroded by numerous lobbying scandals, making lobbying almost synonymous with sleaze despite its essential role in democracy.

The government's response to these recommendations will now fall to Andy Burnham. The proposed changes would also include a significant increase in civil penalties for offenses under the Lobbying Act.