The Government faced calls today from both Tory and Labour MPs to reform Britain’s secretive lobbying system in the wake of revelations in The Independent.
This morning we published details
of how Bell Pottinger boasted about its access to the heart of
Government to journalists posing as potential clients.
The revelations have increased pressure for the Government to
introduce a statutory register of lobbyists.
Conservative backbencher Jesse Norman said that the latest
disclosures reaffirmed his view that lobbying was a “canker on the
body politic”.
"There is a huge need for greater transparency and integrity and
honesty in the relationships between different business
organisations and politicians. This casts both sides in rather a
bad light," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One.
Labour MP John Cryer, who is tabling a backbench bill on
lobbyists, said the system should be opened up and made properly
transparent.
"You have got the panzer divisions, as one Tory MP once
described them, of big business bringing the heavy artillery to
bear on government. It is not open, it is not transparent, people
don't know what's going on," he told The World at One.
"It is a cosy club at the centre of government seemingly being
influenced in making decisions without any sort of
accountability."
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said companies would do
better to go through the official channels to speak to ministers
and civil servants about their concerns.
"It simply isn't true to say that Bell Pottinger or any other
lobbying company has influenced Government policy," said the
spokesman.
"Clearly it is in their interests to tell their clients that
they can provide them with a service and that is what they appear
to be doing."
The spokesman said that Downing Street, the Treasury and the
Department for Business were happy to speak to companies about
their business concerns in response to direct contacts.
"In my experience in the civil service, the official process is
the best one to pursue," he said. "If companies want to spend money
on lobbyists, that is a matter for them."
Lord Bell, chairman of Bell Pottinger's parent company Chime
Communications, told the Press Association the firm would be making
a formal complaint to the Press Complaints Commission about the
"sting".
"There is no public interest in this story," said Lord Bell.
"There is absolutely no suggestion of any impropriety either. If
there was, I would sue them.
"I am a great supporter of the freedom of the press and a great
believer in self-regulation. This story does nothing to enhance
either argument."
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett accused the
Government of being "too close to corporate interests".
"These are very serious allegations involving a former member of
the Conservative front bench as well as some of David Cameron's
closest confidants inside Downing Street and his cheerleaders in
the media," said the Labour frontbencher.
"We have been calling on the Government to implement a statutory
register of lobbyists. We need reform to ensure that there is no
question of the rich and powerful buying access to the Prime
Minister and his advisers."
But Mr Cameron's spokesman said: "I simply do not accept that
there was undue access."
He added: "It is wholly unsurprising that, in a conversation
with the Chinese, we might talk to them about intellectual property
rights. I think you would be surprised if we did not.
"In conversation with foreign governments, we often talk about
business issues."
He added: "If companies have issues, then they can come and talk
to the Government. We have a Department for Business which speaks
to companies all the time. People in the Treasury speak to business
and people in business speak to Downing Street. If James Dyson
phoned Downing Street, somebody would take his call."
Government proposals for a statutory register of lobbyists,
which were due to be published last month, are not now expected
until after Christmas.
Asked when they will appear, Mr Cameron's spokesman said only:
"Pretty soon."
The coalition agreement committed ministers to regulating the
industry by introducing the register "and ensuring greater
transparency".
New laws are not likely to be introduced before the next session
of Parliament.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "The Government has repeatedly
emphasised the commitment made in the coalition agreement to bring
greater transparency to lobbying by establishing a statutory
register.
"We plan to bring forward proposals in the coming weeks."
*
Caught on camera: top lobbyists boasting how they influence the
PM
*
The Sting: The fake 'Asimov Group' meets Bell Pottinger
*
The Transcript: 'David Cameron raised it with the Chinese Prime
Minister'
*
We wrote Sri Lankan President's civil war speech, say lobbyists
*
Vicious dictatorship which Bell Pottinger was prepared to do
business with
*
Oliver Wright: Vested interests are entitled to argue their case,
but it must be in the open
*
Andrew Grice: Plenty of talk about cracking down on lobbying – but
still there's no action
*
Leading article: Evidence of a lobbying industry out of control
*
thebureauinvestigates.com
Comments