Lobbyist Code of Practice welcome, but much influence remains off the record

The Assembly Standards Committee report into tighter regulation for lobbyists is a welcome step for Welsh democracy and both lobbyists and politicians of all shades should welcome it as a sensible step into protecting both from accusations undue influence.

However it’s not the formal lobbying that worries me that much. Even before today’s recommendations much of it is pretty transparent, it’s the non-official off the record chats with Minister’s that aren’t recorded and easily denied which often have a disproportionate influence on Government policy and decisions that really concern me.

Unfortunately that will only change when the electorate wakes up to it and starts querying why certain decisions are made, but were a long way from that yet and today’s report is a step in the right direction.

The full report can be downloaded here

Any source