Opposition Day — Statutory Register of Lobbyists — 25 Jun 2013 at 15:41

All MPs, whether they voted aye or no in this division, were voting in favour of the introduction of a statutory register for all professional lobbyists.

The majority of MPs voted to amend a motion^[1], the operative element of which stated:

• That this House
• calls on the Government to immediately begin cross-party negotiations with a view to introducing a Bill before the summer recess, which would provide for the creation of a register for all professional lobbyists, with a clear code of conduct which is backed by sanctions in the event of egregious breaches of the code

with a replacement motion^[1] stating:

• That this House
• notes the failure of the previous administration to implement a statutory register of lobbyists for 13 years;
• welcomes the Coalition Agreement commitment to regulate lobbying through a statutory register;
• notes the Government’s consultation paper on Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists;
• welcomes the Government’s commitment to bring forward legislation before the summer recess to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists, as part of a broad package of measures to tighten the rules on how third parties can influence the UK’s political system; and
• looks forward to welcoming reforms that ensure that the activities of outside organisations who seek to influence the political process are transparent, accountable and properly regulated.

Both motions were positive about the introduction of a statutory register of lobbyists by the summer recess. The difference between the motions was on insubstantive elements such as noting that the previous administration did not bring in such a register.

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• [1] House of Commons Order of Business 25 Jun 2013

Debate in Parliament | Source |