Propel Calls for tough rules on corporate lobbying

WALES’ new political party Propel has stated it will implement tough control of lobbying, if in government after May. Propel’s Contract with Wales includes a Public Services Accountability Act, with rules on corporate lobbying a key element.

The Act reads that Propel will,

” Enact a mandatory lobbying register, meaning all corporate lobbyists must record details of their lobbying, its purpose, their clients and how much money was involved.”

Corporate lobbying is when lobbyists are paid to influence or ‘lobby’ politicians and legislation on behalf of clients.

Leader of Propel Neil McEvoy said,

“Uncontrolled lobbying is a cancer at the heart of Welsh public life. Our Parliament must clean up Cardiff Bay. Too much goes on behind closed doors. A select bunch of people have hijacked devolution and are milking it for all it is worth. This must be addressed.

“It is instructive that both Labour and Plaid Cymru voted against a lobbying register and neither mentions lobbying rules in their manifestos. We have to ask the question why? When influential members of political parties, or their clients, benefit from Government deals, this really should be declared.

“We need to know who these lobbyists are, how much money is involved in their deals and their purpose. The lobbying industry has been left to police itself and the result has been scandal after scandal that has brought our Parliament into disrepute.

Jeff Gregory, Propel candidate in the Rhondda said,

“Propel exists to take on vested interests. We want a Parliament for the people. £17 billion goes through Cardiff Bay every year and we must have better scrutiny. I want a Parliament I can be proud of and controlling lobbying is a must.”