Key facts
- The UK's Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) has called for a significant overhaul of lobbying rules.
- The recommendations follow a review prompted by the Peter Mandelson scandal.
- The EIC proposes an 'activity-based' lobbying register to capture more activity.
- New reporting requirements are suggested for a wider range of government officials and special advisers.
- Andy Burnham, the expected next UK prime minister, will decide on implementing the watchdog's 37 recommendations.
The UK's independent Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) has urged Andy Burnham, the expected next prime minister, to implement a comprehensive overhaul of the country's lobbying regulations. The call comes in the wake of a major review prompted by the Peter Mandelson scandal, which highlighted concerns over the relationship between senior Westminster figures and corporate interests.
The EIC's report, released Thursday, states that new laws are necessary to address inadequacies in Westminster's lobbying and government transparency systems. The watchdog has put forward 37 recommendations, which it suggests should be implemented before the next general election, due by 2029. Burnham, who has campaigned on a platform of change, is expected to make the decision on whether to accept these proposals.
Under the current system, only a small fraction of lobbying activities are registered. The EIC's analysis, supported by Transparency International UK, found that only about 4% of lobbying activity in Westminster is captured. The commission proposes replacing this with an 'activity-based' register that would require in-house public affairs professionals, charities, and think tanks to log all their lobbying efforts. The recommendations also include new reporting requirements for those lobbying a broader range of civil servants and government officials, extending the rules to cover special advisers.
The EIC criticized the government's fragmented transparency system and advocated for a unified repository to collect and publish lobbying returns and meeting details. The proposed reforms have been supported by the UK's main lobbying industry trade bodies, which have argued that lax rules contribute to negative public sentiment. Alastair McCapra, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, emphasized the need for immediate action on lobbying reform, calling it a potential 'day-one commitment' for the next Prime Minister.