Shadow minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said this week: 'Greater openness and transparency is needed ... If the industry fails to self-regulate, it should be prepared for legislation that will ensure greater accountability.'
The news was revealed on prweek.com (22 September). In response, PRCA chief executive Francis Ingham said: 'The reputation of public affairs is too often tarnished by the actions of a few unethical practitioners who opt to remain unregulated, either because they cannot reach the standards others attain, or because they wish to hide their client lists ... We welcome the Conservatives' call for the public affairs industry to get its house in order.'