As another lobbying scandal erupts in the Conservative party, are tougher rules finally on the horizon?
Article written by Dr Michele Crepaz from Queen's University Belfast and Dr Ben Worthy from the University of London. Article originally appeared in The Conversation.
Conservative MP Scott Benton has become the latest British politician to face suspension for breaking lobbying rules in what is becoming a regular cycle of scandals. Parliament’s committee on standards has recommended a 35-day suspension for Benton after he was alleged to have lobbied for the gambling industry and given company access to confidential government documents.
Benton is accused of leaking the government’s gambling white paper ahead of publication, thereby handing over information about plans to bring in tighter regulations for the industry. Benton has said the parliamentary committee’s report into his behaviour contains “factually inaccurate” statements. He has said he will appeal his proposed suspension and will make a formal complaint, accusing the committee of leaking the report to a journalist.
Meanwhile, newly appointed foreign secretary and former prime minister David Cameron carried out an array of activities during his stint out of office that are potentially now contentious.
The UK lobbying industry is the third largest in the world, with more than 4,000 lobbyists in and around Westminster and Whitehall. But it has some of the weakest regulation. Major scandals have regularly punctuated British politics since the 1990s and lobbying has turned into a continual, rolling controversy.
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Article originally appeared in The Conversation.
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About the Authors
Dr Ben Worthy joined Birkbeck College in 2012 and is a lecturer in politics. His research interests include Government Transparency, Open Data, Political leadership, British Politics, Digital Democracy and Public Policy and Policy-making. He has written articles for Governance, Parliamentary Affairs and Public Administration. He has also written a number of reports and presented evidence to the Justice Select Committee.
Dr Michele Crepaz is a Vice-Chancellor Illuminate Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast. His research interests lie at the intersection between comparative politics and public policy and is particularly interested in the role of interest groups and transparency in politics.
