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handling lobbyists
Handling lobbyists
A guide for those who work for an MP
Added: 24 February 2004
What
are Lobbyists for?
Firstly, never call them Lobbyists; they
prefer the term “Public Affairs Professionals”. It became
unfashionable to be called a Lobbyist after the Neil Hamilton and Derek
Draper scandals. Many people like to think that a Parliament of MPs is
elected and then they just get on with the job of representing their
constituents until the next election comes around. In reality, after a
Member walks into the Palace for the first time with that status, they are
swamped with pleas for assistance from countless individuals, companies,
NGOs, charities, associations and other pressure groups.
In this environment, the Lobbyist thrives.
There is an almost unlimited number of people trying to get a message to
MPs in support of their campaign and the Lobbyist provides an important
service to his or her client but also to you and your Member. To the
client, the Lobbyist provides insight into, and experience of, the
political system and its procedures and manages expectations about what is
achievable in order to pursue the clients’ goals efficiently and
effectively. To you and your Member, the Lobbyist should represent an
opportunity to achieve more than would otherwise be possible in your work
and as a filtering mechanism to protect you from the more wild-eyed
interest groups.
How
can a Lobbyist help you do more?
By definition, a Lobbyist is trying to get
your Member to do something. There was a time where paying an MP would do
the trick – if you chose the right MP and the right sum. But things have
moved on and one thing you must always do is ensure you keep a record of
anything a Lobbyist ever gives you. As a member of staff, you have to
register every gift or payment with a value of over £275 and Members and
All Party Groups must similarly register all gifts and payments with a
value over £500. All such register-able interests must be registered
within 28 days of receipt. If you are unsure about anything on this score,
immediately contact Philippa Wainwright at the office of the Commissioner
for Standards on x0401. As a rule of thumb, never do anything for a
Lobbyist who contributed to an event - or bought you a Christmas present
or something – which you wouldn’t do for a Lobbyist who hadn’t.
So, bearing in mind you will have to
register interests as they arise, what can a Lobbyist do for you? You have
to relate this to the interests and priorities of your Member. For
example, if your member has an interest in the cutlery industry, there
will no doubt be a Lobbyist retained by one or a number of cutlery
companies, who could provide you with briefings, help you draft
ministerial questions, draft speeches or even take over the administration
of an All Party Parliamentary Group on Cutlery.
Don’t ever be embarrassed about asking
for assistance from a Lobbyist. If a Lobbyist approaches you requesting
that your Member makes a contribution to a debate on the Cutlery Bill, by
all means ask them to produce some notes, a briefing or even a first draft
of a speech.
Whatever
you do with a Lobbyist, retain ownership
All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are
enormously time-consuming to manage and if you can get a Lobbyist to do
this on your behalf, then take the opportunity. However, there is a word
of warning. At all times, you must remain in control of the work of an
APPG. It is, after all, there to service the Members and Peers who have
joined the group, not to service a Lobbyist or their client.
Let me give you an example. Say the APPG
on Cutlery, set up and run by you for a year, is becoming too time
consuming. You might jump at the chance to pass this workload to the very
willing Lobbyist, Johnson, Snapcrup
& Co. However, J,S&C’s client could be the foremost
manufacturer of three-prong forks and wish to use the influence with the
APPG Cutlery to pursue a banning of four-prong forks. So if you are
passing such a task onto a Lobbyist, retain control of the agenda, be
aware of their client’s aims and always have the last word on material
that goes out on behalf of the APPG. It can be helpful to have links with
another Lobbyist with a similarly interested client so that you can get
support elsewhere if you need it - the J,S&Cs of this world should
need you more than you need them.
What
might a Lobbyist want to give you?
Once again, whatever a Lobbyist gives you,
you must make a note and estimate its value – always overestimate rather
than underestimate if you are unsure. But what are we talking about? The
main thing you will be offered will be dinner. It is not immoral for a
Lobbyist to buy you a lunch or dinner, during the course of which you
discuss work. But once again be cautious that you never say anything over
dinner that you wouldn’t say without a dinner (or a bottle of wine). It
is also possible that you might be sent a pen set or a desk jotter or a
tie – often branded with a corporate logo – by way of thanks after a
particular campaign goal has been achieved. A Lobbyist will often insist
on buying drinks if you are out together; part of the expense account
culture. But just remember: nothing you do should be because you have
received a gift. If you will feel obliged after having received a gift,
then politely decline. If in any doubt at all, call Philippa Wainwright at
the office of the Commissioner for Standards.
The
last thing a Lobbyist might offer you
There is one last thing a Lobbyist might
offer you – and that is a job. Highflying Lobbyists earn more than MPs
and it is not unusual for MPs’ staff to go into that field. Treat
Lobbyists as you would any potential future employer – be polite,
professional and effective. The lack of room for career progression for
MPs staff means that even if you are happy now, there might come a time
when you will want to move on and Lobbying could be the field where you
next emerge.
AH/February 2004
For a more up-to-date view on this issue have a look at Working with lobbyists – A view from the Dark Side. Written in April 2007 by a former researcher now working as a public affairs professional.
You can also
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For a more up-to-date view on this issue have a look at Working with lobbyists – A view from the Dark Side. Written in April 2007 by a former researcher now working as a public affairs professional.