Lobbying transparency and public confidence

Summary

That this House welcomes the first report of the Ethics and Integrity Commission entitled Lobbying, Business Appointment Rules and Disclosure, published in July 2026, following the previous Prime Minister’s request for an urgent review of lobbying transparency, financial interest declarations and post-employment rules; notes the Commission's finding that the current lobbying regime is wholly inadequate, including a narrow definition of who counts as a lobbyist, exemptions for smaller organisations and for lobbying deemed incidental to other business, the exclusion of lobbying of special advisers and other senior officials from registration requirements, and weak enforcement; further welcomes the Commission's recommendations, including a comprehensive Lobbying Register covering all lobbying activity, closing the loophole that allows non-VAT-registered organisations not to register as lobbyists, extended registration covering the lobbying of special advisers and senior officials, an integrated digital transparency platform bringing together details of ministerial meetings and the lobbying register, mandatory monthly reporting with more information on the purpose of meetings, a graduated fee structure for lobbying registration to protect smaller businesses and charities, and higher civil penalties for non-compliance; also welcomes support for recommendations from within the professional lobbying industry itself, including the Chartered Institute of Public Relations; welcomes the new Prime Minister’s pledge to fix a broken Westminster system; and calls on the Government to implement the Commission's recommendations in full and without delay, including through the necessary primary and secondary legislation, in order to restore public confidence in the integrity and transparency of lobbying and decision-making in government.

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Timeline

1. 15 October 2026

   Early Day Motion

   That this House welcomes the first report of the Ethics and Integrity Commission entitled Lobbying, Business Appointment Rules and Disclosure, published in July 2026, following the previous Prime Minister’s request for an urgent review of lobbying transparency, financial interest declarations and post-employment rules; notes the Commission's finding that the current lobbying regime is wholly inadequate, including a narrow definition of who counts as a lobbyist, exemptions for smaller organisations and for lobbying deemed incidental to other business, the exclusion of lobbying of special advisers and other senior officials from registration requirements, and weak enforcement; further welcomes the Commission's recommendations, including a comprehensive Lobbying Register covering all lobbying activity, closing the loophole that allows non-VAT-registered organisations not to register as lobbyists, extended registration covering the lobbying of special advisers and senior officials, an integrated digital transparency platform bringing together details of ministerial meetings and the lobbying register, mandatory monthly reporting with more information on the purpose of meetings, a graduated fee structure for lobbying registration to protect smaller businesses and charities, and higher civil penalties for non-compliance; also welcomes support for recommendations from within the professional lobbying industry itself, including the Chartered Institute of Public Relations; welcomes the new Prime Minister’s pledge to fix a broken Westminster system; and calls on the Government to implement the Commission's recommendations in full and without delay, including through the necessary primary and secondary legislation, in order to restore public confidence in the integrity and transparency of lobbying and decision-making in government.

   Source: Early Day Motion

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Sponsors

• Siân Berry · Green Party · Primary sponsor

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