The Week in Lobbying

The PR industry has defended the right of firms to financially back All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) following a Times expose. The Times called the role of firms in funding APPGs a 'lobbying free-for-all'. PRCA CEO Francis Ingham defended the role of 'outside support' for APPGs, but emphasised the PRCA's insistence that members declare support for such groups.

MHP has brought in two account manager to boost its public affairs team. Sam Williams joins from Dods, where he headed the training function, and Liane Cresswell joins from The Whitehouse Consultancy, where she was a consultant.

Graham Allen, the chairman of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, has again urged the Government to act on the recommendations in the committee's July lobbying report. The MP said the Government's plans should include all professional lobbyists. The industry is awaiting proposals to be published.

Policy Exchange is calling for PR professionals to get involved with its 'call for evidence'. Businesses, charities, NGOs, academics and civil servants will be asked to formally feed in their views to the think-tank's research. Nick Faith, director of comms at Policy Exchange, said PROs had a 'role to play' in getting those they represent to engage with the think-tank.