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We have worked hard to reform the lobbying system We have worked hard to reform the lobbying system
(4 months later)
Nigel Farage is typically hyperbolic in his analysis of the relationships between lobbyists and policymakers, and as a result does our efforts to secure sensible legislative reform a disservice (This cosy trialogue, 4 June).Nigel Farage is typically hyperbolic in his analysis of the relationships between lobbyists and policymakers, and as a result does our efforts to secure sensible legislative reform a disservice (This cosy trialogue, 4 June).
His claim that "Westminster has come on little since the Tory sleaze of the John Major years" fails to recognise the huge strides lobbyists have made. He may not be aware that 70 lobbying agencies comply with a strict code of conduct governed by the Association of Professional Political Consultants , breaches of which are subject to a tough and independent arbitration process. Lobbyists who adhere to the code cannot, for example, hold parliamentary passes – something which the Commons Speaker is only now belatedly clamping down on.His claim that "Westminster has come on little since the Tory sleaze of the John Major years" fails to recognise the huge strides lobbyists have made. He may not be aware that 70 lobbying agencies comply with a strict code of conduct governed by the Association of Professional Political Consultants , breaches of which are subject to a tough and independent arbitration process. Lobbyists who adhere to the code cannot, for example, hold parliamentary passes – something which the Commons Speaker is only now belatedly clamping down on.
Farage goes on to lament the "inability of the Westminster nexus to muck out the mess from its own stables". Lobbyists are an unavoidable part of this nexus and yet, as in almost all recent "lobbying" exposés, not a single lobbyist was implicated this week.Farage goes on to lament the "inability of the Westminster nexus to muck out the mess from its own stables". Lobbyists are an unavoidable part of this nexus and yet, as in almost all recent "lobbying" exposés, not a single lobbyist was implicated this week.
The Ukip leader then asks "whether our political system can ever be clear of closed-room deals where legislators take backhanders". He knows perfectly well the answer is probably not, but he casually dismisses one solution that would address some of these issues. He says: "The only response from Westminster is to have a three-party trialogue on an official list of lobbyists." The "official list" to which he refers is a statutory lobbying register (no small undertaking) that would – if drafted properly and given parliamentary time – go a long way to increasing public confidence. It would, for example, have prevented the conflict of interest last year when a minister was exposed for wrongfully employing a practising lobbyist who also represented private sector clients.The Ukip leader then asks "whether our political system can ever be clear of closed-room deals where legislators take backhanders". He knows perfectly well the answer is probably not, but he casually dismisses one solution that would address some of these issues. He says: "The only response from Westminster is to have a three-party trialogue on an official list of lobbyists." The "official list" to which he refers is a statutory lobbying register (no small undertaking) that would – if drafted properly and given parliamentary time – go a long way to increasing public confidence. It would, for example, have prevented the conflict of interest last year when a minister was exposed for wrongfully employing a practising lobbyist who also represented private sector clients.
In fact, the three-party trialogue Farage sneers at is fundamental to the success of any bill: particularly because the government is minded to introduce a statutory register that excludes some lobbyists, which risks making a mockery of the entire enterprise. Genuine cross-party talks are crucial to ditching this particular idea.In fact, the three-party trialogue Farage sneers at is fundamental to the success of any bill: particularly because the government is minded to introduce a statutory register that excludes some lobbyists, which risks making a mockery of the entire enterprise. Genuine cross-party talks are crucial to ditching this particular idea.
The political and constitutional reform committee should also be involved. It said recently that "a statutory register which includes only third-party lobbyists would do little to improve transparency about who is lobbying whom, as these meetings constitute only a small part of the lobbying industry".The political and constitutional reform committee should also be involved. It said recently that "a statutory register which includes only third-party lobbyists would do little to improve transparency about who is lobbying whom, as these meetings constitute only a small part of the lobbying industry".
Farage says that under any such legislation it will be "almost impossible to define" who is a lobbyist, and suggests that "any private citizen or small group could be listed". On the contrary, organisations representing lobbyists have developed a robust definition that protects the relationship between MPs and their constituents, exempting those people who lobby MPs on their own behalf.Farage says that under any such legislation it will be "almost impossible to define" who is a lobbyist, and suggests that "any private citizen or small group could be listed". On the contrary, organisations representing lobbyists have developed a robust definition that protects the relationship between MPs and their constituents, exempting those people who lobby MPs on their own behalf.
Finally, Farage's analysis that "the essence of the problem is that the major political parties are in hock to the lobbies" is pure mischief-making. He knows very well that the recent accusations levelled against parliamentarians are about individual politicians, not parties, accepting money for political influence. This is a quite distinct problem from that of party funding and needs to be addressed separately.Finally, Farage's analysis that "the essence of the problem is that the major political parties are in hock to the lobbies" is pure mischief-making. He knows very well that the recent accusations levelled against parliamentarians are about individual politicians, not parties, accepting money for political influence. This is a quite distinct problem from that of party funding and needs to be addressed separately.
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