‘Lifting the Lid on Lobbying’ evaluates the gaps in the rules that allow corruption to flourish. Please join us at the report launch in Houses of Parliament, Committee Room 12 at 5.30pm on Tuesday 10 February.

We face a widely acknowledged crisis of trust in politics and political parties. While the causes of this are complex there is no doubt that the lobbying environment in the UK and the frequency of lobbying scandals play a major role in damaging public faith in the political and policy process.

‘Lifting the Lid on Lobbying’ describes several risks of corrupt behaviour in lobbying and evaluates, across the UK and devolved nations, the gaps in the rules that permit an environment conducive to corruption to flourish. For the first time, this research compares the wide variations across the UK in the approach to maintaining the integrity and transparency of public institutions and decision making.

The report’s findings indicate that there is much to be done in order to tackle the risks to our institutions, not least the ability of lobbyists to conceal their interests and activity, the role of ‘big money’ in political donations, the ‘revolving door’ between public and private sectors, and the role of external and unaccountable expertise brought in to inform government policy.

Following an introduction to the report from Transparency International UK, a panel of parliamentarians, researchers, and investigative journalists will discuss the report’s conclusions and their implications for parliamentary standards before opening the discussion to the floor.

Chair:
Lord Philips of Sudbury (Liberal Democrat)

Panellists:
The report’s conclusions will be discussed by parliamentarians, researchers, and investigative journalists, including:
Lisa Nandy MP (Labour)
Mark Durkan MP (Political & Constitutional Reform Committee) (Social Democratic and Labour Party – Northern Ireland)
Robert Barrington (Executive Director, Transparency International UK)
Iain Anderson, Chair of The Association of Professional Political Consultants

Timing
17:30 – Welcome
17:35  – Overview of report findings, Dr Elizabeth David-Barrett, University of Sussex
17:45 – Panel discussion and audience Q&A
18:30 – Close

Please register for the event via eventbrite

This event is hosted by Transparency International UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption

With financial support from the Prevention of and Fight against Crime Programme of the European Union.

European Commission – Directorate-General Home Affairs