Lobbying Flashcards
What is a lobbyist?
Someone who is paid by their clients to seek to influence the government or parliament on their behalf
How much is the lobbying industry estimated to be worth?
2 billion per year
What is the difference between ‘in house’ lobbyist and ‘PR Firms’
- in house does not have to be registered
What methods do lobbyists use?
- put their clients case to ministers, MP s and civil servants
- order up polling
- pay economists to produce studies to back up their argument
- try to marshal influential voices
What can lobbyists be paid for and what can’t they?
Can’t - trying to influence ministers or legislation
Can - advice on public policy and current affairs
What is meant by the term ‘revolving door’ and why is the seen as a threat to democracy?
The relation between government and well paid jobs
- 1 in 5 newly elected conservative MPs worked in lobbying
- can be a conflict of interest
Benefits of lobbying to democracy?
- provide expert information to create policies with
- Give underrepresented people a voice / people who don’t know how to work the system
- More efficient and organised
Why is the system of lobbying seen as a threat to democracy?
- not well regulated and can be abused
- good system for the rich, however, for the poor it isn’t very accessible
What could be done to help reform lobbying?
- make all lobbyists register
- allow the public to be aware of who ministers are meeting and what it is being discussed
Who is Baroness Mone?
Business woman - entrepreneur for a lingerie company
- In the house of lords
What did Baroness Mone do?
- biggest lobbying scandal
- set up PPT Medpro and got a 200 million pound contract from the government to supply COVID supplies
- She personally received 29 million
- Turned out that the gowns she supplied were unusable
- Had to take a leave from the House of Lords
