GovernanceNational 20h 45m left
Should lobbying be made completely transparent?
The UK’s 2014 Lobbying Act requires only consultant lobbyists to register when contacting ministers or permanent secretaries. A July 2026 Ethics and Integrity Commission review recommended a comprehensive register covering all lobbyists, in-house staff, special advisers, multiple communication methods, and specific policy targets to improve transparency. The government is reviewing the findings while a private member’s bill to include in-house lobbyists is before the House of Lords.
5 Opinions
Better, it should be banned. All public sector actions should be transparent, all spending, plans and decisions. On each level.
If big corporations are trying to rewrite laws, ordinary taxpayers have every right to know who is in the room. The current lobbying register is a farce... it lets massive in-house corporate teams and special advisers bypass the rules entirely and influence ministers in secret. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Yes. Full transparency. The 2014 Act only catches consultant lobbyists. In-house teams, charities and advisers can walk in unseen. If they want to move the law, the public can see who asked. Paperwork is a cost. Hidden influence is a larger one. One register. No special door.
I believe lobbying absolutely invites corruption, and should be very tightly regulated.