I was disappointed to read Simon Jenkins’ article (Theresa May’s first test is to stand up to lobbyists, 21 July), in which he takes a number of issues he disagrees with and lays the blame for retaining Trident and delivering HS2, Heathrow and Hinkley Point on the influence of public affairs practitioners. Mr Jenkins should be well aware that there are public affairs professionals on both sides of all these arguments, so perhaps he may only dislike some of them.
It is important to recognise that in industry and business, senior decision-makers need timely, well-researched information and advice when making decisions that could affect millions of pounds of expenditure and the jobs of thousands of people. Public affairs practitioners such as those who belong to member agencies of the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC), as listed in Mr Jenkins’ article, are professionals, committed to high standards of behaviour and compliant with clear rules on transparency. Indeed, it would be greatly welcomed if in-house professionals faced similar levels of scrutiny.
APPC members publish quarterly declarations of all paid-for public affairs activity, as required by the APPC register, and adhere to a strict code of conduct that promotes high ethical standards, including an absolute ban on making any award or payment in money or in kind to any MP, MSP, AM, MEP, sitting peer or to any member of the Northern Ireland assembly or the Greater London authority, or to connected persons or persons acting on their account directly or through third parties. Many also declare all meetings with ministers and permanent secretaries on behalf of clients through the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists.
In a vibrant, modern democracy the role of public affairs professionals to business leaders is of critical value to the economy. So instead of decrying public affairs, should we not instead champion the profession’s code of conduct and industry register, and recognise the benefits that they bring to the UK?
Mark Glover
Chairman, Association of Professional Political Consultants
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