Lobbying regulation seems like a matter that could be usefully considered by the Law Commission, instead of an Inquiries Act type public inquiry. Tricky legal balancing things are well in its wheelhouse.
I'll admit I have no 'real' knowledge about this stuff, but it kind-of feels like a prime case for 'sunlight being the best disinfectant'?... It wouldn't take very much legislation, cost, or labour restriction, to simply make public the names of paid lobbyists and the 'causes' they represent, whenever they interact with the government. And change nothing else.
Given this appears to currently be not the case, I assume there is a downside I haven't considered? I just can't help (conspiratorially) thinking it's downside for the (influential) lobbyists and their clients, rather than for the public interest?
Lobbying regulation seems like a matter that could be usefully considered by the Law Commission, instead of an Inquiries Act type public inquiry. Tricky legal balancing things are well in its wheelhouse.
I'll admit I have no 'real' knowledge about this stuff, but it kind-of feels like a prime case for 'sunlight being the best disinfectant'?... It wouldn't take very much legislation, cost, or labour restriction, to simply make public the names of paid lobbyists and the 'causes' they represent, whenever they interact with the government. And change nothing else.
Given this appears to currently be not the case, I assume there is a downside I haven't considered? I just can't help (conspiratorially) thinking it's downside for the (influential) lobbyists and their clients, rather than for the public interest?