Stephen Lock
Ludgate public affairs
’Acceptable lobbying is giving advice to clients so they are awarded
access on the strength of their cause and argument. I am all for
aggressive marketing, but it should concentrate on issues, rather than
people. What is noticeable about these recurring claims of lobbyists
offering access, is that they usually involve young people, new to
consulting. In all the cases we have seen, the real blame can usually be
placed at the door of the agency heads, who have taken too little time
to train their younger staff on the ethics and pitfalls of consultancy
marketing. I hope the APPC can be persuaded to address this aspect of
training urgently.’
Julia Clarke
Holyrood Strategy
’We don’t sell access. We sell effective professional communications,
political advice and analysis, helping clients compose an effective
communications message, whatever the audience. It is political,
certainly, but there is nothing immoral about that. We wouldn’t peddle
access and clients don’t come to us and ask whether we can get them that
minister. What they ask is how they would go about telling them about
their issues. The central points of the Association for Scottish Public
Affairs code of conduct include being open and honest in dealing with
politicians, being open about the clients you represent when dealing
with politicians, and not offering hospitality that is
unreasonable.’
Mario Dunn
Dixons Group
’I had hoped we had heard the end of ’cash for access’ and it is
unfortunate the reputation of the Scottish Parliament has been
undermined in this way. If you have something interesting to say,
ministers will listen.
Businesses should not be lured into thinking that by paying money to a
lobby company they are somehow buying access. The best marketing a lobby
company can do is to demonstrate it understands the issues facing the
client and guide them through the complex political road map that now
extends from Westminster to Brussels, Edinburgh, Cardiff and the English
regions. It should be up to the client to do the rest.’
Ian Wright
Boots the Chemists
’I think the answer is that it is never right to peddle access. In a
democracy, everyone must have access. The proper role for lobbyists is
in helping in the presentation of the case, helping to make it clearer
and more forceful. I wouldn’t believe a lobbyist who said to me they
could get me access for something where I couldn’t get it myself. In the
Draper case - what he said was that he could get you in with the 17 most
influential people in Britain - well, if you have such an important
thing to say, the 17 most influential people in Britain would be pretty
stupid not to listen to you. I think it would be more serious if they
could show that lobbyists had undue influence. But as a rule, the better
the lobbyists, the less they claim. What we want to know is what their
insight is. I think there is a very clear line, which should never be
crossed. Anybody claiming to get you access should be shown the door
immediately.’
