Labour demands radical and immediate overhaul of lobbying rules

Responding to the Boardman review, Labour’s Deputy Leader and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Angela Rayner MP, said:

“The Greensill scandal proves beyond all doubt that the rules that are supposed to regulate lobbying are completely unfit for purpose and require radical and immediate overhaul.

“This report was set up as a classic Boris Johnson cover-up and whitewash to protect the Government – a government Non-Executive Director whose firm worked with the Treasury on corporate financing and had previously campaigned against lobbying reforms was appointed to lead a review, with the terms of reference specifically limited to avoid a wider investigation of lobbying, privileged access and the revolving door between Whitehall and business.
“The ACOBA system and current rules regulating lobbying do more harm than good by giving a veil of legitimacy to the rampant cronyism, sleaze and dodgy lobbying that is polluting our democracy under the Tories.

“Labour will ban former Ministers from lobbying government for at least five years after they leave office, and overhaul the current broken system and replace it with an Integrity and Ethics Commission that will close the revolving door and stamp out sleaze."