The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill

I am very concerned about this bill.

This bill seeks to increase the regulation of charities and campaigners and so called third party campaigning in the year before a General Election and to restrict their activities.

Labour supports transparency for third party campaigners. We originally set a cap on third party spending in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. But this isn't about transparency, it is about gagging charities and campaigners, while doing nothing to address the real 'big money' in politics and will have a chilling effect on the quality of our national debate.

I am also concerned that the bill will not tackle the real issues around lobbyists' access to Parliament and decision makers as it would only capture a tiny minority of the lobbying industry. The proposals only apply to third-party 'consultant' lobbyists which it is estimated would account for one per cent of ministerial meetings organised by lobbyists.

The section of the bill relating to trade unions is unnecessary. The bill will require trade unions to supply an annual membership audit certificate to the Certification Officer and unions with more than 10,000 members will be required to appoint an assurer who will provide a certificate stating whether or not the unions meet requirements. The TUC have said that they have no objection to providing membership lists to the Certification Officer but there are real concerns around membership data security and possible blacklisting of members and why these changes should only apply to trade unions and not to political parties. I agree with the TUC who have questioned the Government on their reasons for bringing in these changes. As the TUC state, they are unable to discern the problem that this part of the bill is meant to remedy.

The Government are rushing this bill through Parliament to be in time for the next General Election without any formal consultation and any consideration of its impact. My Labour colleagues and I will continue to call for amendments to the bill as it progresses, and oppose if we can't force changes.