Ideas: Compulsory register of lobbyists

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Ideas: Compulsory register of lobbyists

30.11.2009 // by Guest

This idea comes from Barry in London:

What's the big idea?:

To secure a compulsory register of lobbyists to the UK parliament, as proposed in the report of the Commons Public Admiinstration Committee at the start of 2009 and subsequently supported in an Early Day Motion by 200 MPs.

Why is this change important to you?:

Transparency and accountability still seem to be the words on every politician's lips. But still we wait for the government to put an end to secrecy in lobbying who have only come down in favour of continuing self-regulation. This is simply a decision in favour ofthe status quo. It is simply not good enough.

Whether it's the financial sector trying to water down regulation, private healthcare companies lobbying for NHS contracts, or the aviation lobby gunning for airport expansions, companies spend a lot of money trying to influence government. Currently we've no right to know what these lobbyists are up to.