Following her appearance before the Public Administration and
Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC)
on 10 September, Claire Bassett has been appointed as the new
Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists. Her appointment is for the
period of 4 years, commencing on 23 September 2025.
The Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, set up in
2015, is an independent, statutory office with responsibility for
keeping and publishing that register. The Registrar has a duty to
monitor compliance with the requirement to register and a power
to undertake enforcement action in instances of
non-compliance.
The Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists operates as a
corporation sole, meaning all its legal and statutory powers and
duties are held by the individual serving as the Registrar.
Claire Bassett has been selected for the role of the Registrar of
Consultant Lobbyists following a rigorous recruitment process
conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public
Appointments.
The role, which is regulated by the Commissioner for Public
Appointments, is subject to a pre-appointment scrutiny hearing by
the PACAC.
Claire is an experienced Non-Executive Director and former chief
executive with a strong background in regulation, governance, and
public confidence.
Currently Chair of The Property Ombudsman and the Serious Fraud
Office, she has held senior roles at the Electoral Commission,
Parole Board, and Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Claire specialises in organisational change, stakeholder
engagement, and compliance, bringing expertise from sectors
including law, finance, and public oversight to ensure
transparency and integrity.
