The House Article | Regulation is the key to the lobbying industry’s PR problem

4 min read1 hr

Each new scandal reinforces a narrative that influence is traded in the shadows and that standards in our profession are optional. They are not. Integrity is not a bolt-on to public affairs – it is the foundation of it.

But moments like these should not simply prompt outrage. They should prompt reform.

Lobbying, when conducted openly and responsibly, is a vital part of a healthy democracy. It advocates for better legislation, strengthens decision-making and ensures diverse voices are heard. Public affairs, at its best, builds constructive and lasting relationships between business and government that result in stronger legislation and regulation.

Governments too recognise the value of lobbying. As the consultation on the establishment of statutory regulation said: “Lobbying serves an important function in politics – by putting forward the views of stakeholders to policy makers, it helps in the development of better legislation. But it needs to be open and transparent.”

Better legislation affects every aspect of our lives. From fire regulations to tax policy, from the distribution of benefits to transport, education and building standards, public policy sits at the core of how our society functions. Representative, well-informed lawmaking depends on policymakers hearing from those with expertise, experience and evidence to offer. That is authentic advocacy.

Yet there is often confusion about where the line sits between legitimate advocacy and grubby lobbying. Too often, companies themselves are uncertain. As a result, many organisations hesitate to put their heads above the parapet to challenge bad policy or propose better solutions, fearing reputational risk by association.

This confusion is compounded by a regulatory framework that is simply not fit for purpose.

The UK’s existing legislation, centred on the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014, was introduced by the Coalition government following concerns about lobbying transparency.

The resulting act aimed to improve transparency, but its scope is narrow. It captures only consultant lobbyists hired externally, while the vast majority of lobbying activity is conducted in-house by companies, charities and trade bodies and therefore falls outside its remit.

The legislation was never designed to operate in isolation. It was intended to sit alongside wider transparency measures, including quarterly departmental disclosures of ministers’ and senior officials’ meetings, gifts and hospitality.

The Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists also encourages adherence to recognised voluntary codes of conduct, such as those of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) and other professional bodies, as an indicator of good practice. Even taken together, however, these mechanisms remain fragmented.

As a standalone statutory safeguard, the act is insufficient: it lacks both the breadth and the independence required to command sustained public confidence.

Transparency around who is lobbying whom, and on what issues, strengthens public trust. It ensures that decision making takes place openly and responsibly. Without it, suspicion festers and responsible practitioners are tarnished by the actions of the few.

The answer is not to vilify lobbying, nor to pretend that engagement between policymakers and external organisations is inherently suspect. A healthy democracy depends on that engagement. The answer is stronger, clearer and more coherent regulation that applies consistently across the board whether the engagement comes from business, charities, non-governmental organisations or anyone else.

The PRCA supports decisive government action to strengthen integrity in lobbying. The newly formed Ethics and Integrity Commission must be given the powers it needs to design and enforce meaningful reform, backed by credible and independent oversight.

As a professional body, the PRCA stands firm for higher standards. We challenge bad practice, champion transparency and provide our industry with a principled voice. Our Code for Professional Lobbying, alongside our broader Code of Conduct, sets an uncompromising benchmark for ethical practice.

Regulation alone will not solve the industry’s reputational challenges. But clear rules, properly enforced, create the conditions in which ethical practice can succeed and misconduct can be rooted out. 

Sarah Waddington is CEO of the PRCA