Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency

Our guest writer is Johnny Chatterton of 38 Degrees

For a few minutes yesterday it appeared we had secured a major step forward towards lobbying transparency. During the 38 Degrees/Guardian debate we heard shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt reveal that the Conservative Party backs new rules to ban secret lobbying.

Greedy-fat-cat However, shortly after the debate ended, Conservative spin-doctors got in touch to “clarify” that Hunt had not actually said he supported a ban on secret lobbying – a mandatory register of lobbying interests. This was surprising since Hunt had been pretty clear, stating:

“We have said there needs to be statutory register of interest so that everyone knows precisely what lobbying companies are doing and who they lobbying on behalf [of].”

When challenged later in the call he confirmed:

“Yes, we back a statutory code.”

Which was pretty unambiguous – but apparently it does not signal a change in policy. The Conservatives told the Financial Times that they were sticking to their plans to allow lobbyists to “self regulate” – a plan that is very popular with lobbyists but which our friends at Spinwatch describe a “woefully inadequate”.

The FT seems to agree that these plans are weak, concluding that:

“Britain’s lobbyists can breathe easy.”

The Conservatives have made no secret that they are targeting Guardian readers in this election. Earlier this month David Cameron urged Guardian readers to “overcome any prejudices you may have” about the party and vote Conservative.

Cleaning up politics is an issue millions care about. In the last few months alone thousands of 38 Degrees members have joined our campaign for lobbying transparency. If the Conservatives really want to win votes they need to stop using weasel words to avoid confronting important issues.

http://twitter.com/lescromps22/status/12508910234 Les Crompton

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency: http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/andy_s_64/status/12508988043 Andy Sutherland

RT @leftfootfwd Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency: http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/lobby_monkey/status/12509238606 Alexander Ehmann

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency: http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/nicktheowl/status/12509381726 Nick Drew

RT @thedancingflea: That pesky policy tombola. RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency: http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/elrikmerlin/status/12509667431 Elrik Merlin

Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency (LFF) http://bit.ly/cXaMaB
http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/12508829569 House Of Twits

RT @leftfootfwd Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency: http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/jessica_asato/status/12508841781 Jessica Asato

RT @houseoftwits: RT @leftfootfwd Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency: http://bit.ly/aZjx12
topsy_top20k

Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency: http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/thedancingflea/status/12508876533 Claire Spencer

That pesky policy tombola. RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency: http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/chrisplol/status/12508978694 Chris Paul

RT @houseoftwits: RT @leftfootfwd Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency: http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/sinnaluvva/status/12509182726 Malcolm Evison

Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency | Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/cBbWxm
http://twitter.com/lhsi/status/12513213497 Simon Baldwin

RT @38_degrees: RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/saljahn/status/12513333815 Sallyann Griffin

@aJimSweeney (via @38_degrees RT @leftfootfwd: ) Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/38_degrees/status/12513014909 38 Degrees

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/paulstpancras/status/12513087108 paulstpancras

RT @38_degrees: RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/jethrobelman/status/12513186703 jethrobelman

RT @38_degrees: RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12 < @karlmccartney Any comment?
http://twitter.com/adambienkov/status/12513207510 Adam Bienkov

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/hitchineng/status/12517691138 Hitchin England

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12 via @38_degrees
http://twitter.com/hitchineng/status/12565941812 Hitchin England

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12 via @38_degrees
http://twitter.com/ajimsweeney/status/12526973180 Jim Sweeney

RT @Saljahn: @aJimSweeney (via @38_degrees RT @leftfootfwd: ) Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/merseymal/status/12527582378 Mal Franks

RT @Saljahn: @aJimSweeney (via @38_degrees RT @leftfootfwd: ) Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://twitter.com/dominiccampbell/status/12540856377 Dominic Campbell

RT @Paul0Evans1: The Tories on lobbying transparency: Where do they stand? I'm confused http://bit.ly/9sSpMt #opengov
http://twitter.com/paul0evans1/status/12540733188 Paul Evans

The Tories on lobbying transparency: Where do they stand? I'm confused. http://bit.ly/9sSpMt
http://twitter.com/xanabytes/status/12579547273 xana

leftfootfwd: Tory 24-hour u-u-turn on lobbying transparency http://bit.ly/aZjx12
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/liam-fox-adam-werritty-scandal-shows-need-for-lobbying-regulation/ Fox’s sliminess shows how much we need lobbying regulation | Left Foot Forward

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