The government's ethics watchdog has called for a fundamental overhaul of transparency laws, requiring all lobbying of ministers, aides, and senior officials to be publicly declared. The review, led by Doug Chalmers, head of the ethics and integrity commission, proposes a new register detailing who is lobbying, which policies they seek to influence, and who they meet.
The current lobbying register covers only a small fraction of activity, with loopholes meaning as little as 4-6% must be declared. Chalmers stated that the system fails to meet the Nolan principles, which require openness and accountability in public office. The commission recommends closing exemptions for VAT-free lobbyists and 'incidental' communications.
Key recommendations include registering all lobbying, including informal channels like WhatsApp and party conferences, and requiring disclosures of the lobbyist, date, recipient, subject matter, client, and ultimate beneficiary. A new AI-powered platform would allow easy searching alongside ministerial meeting records. Ministers and officials would be expected to decline meetings with unregistered lobbyists.
The review was ordered by Keir Starmer after the Peter Mandelson affair. Decision on implementation now likely falls to Andy Burnham, Starmer's probable successor. Lobbying scandals have dogged figures like David Cameron over Greensill Capital. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations welcomed the proposals, with chief executive Alastair McCapra saying they would 'fundamentally reshape the relationship between lobbyists and Westminster'.
