PRWeek has published its first post-Starmer Lobbying Tracker which has revealed general growth in lobbying activity since PM Andy Burnham took office. However, the question on everyone’s lips is whether further lobbying regulation is in store.  

Ben Thornton, co-founding partner at 5654 & Co, a London-based corporate affairs and strategic communications consultancy, told PRWeek: “We do a lot of work with companies that have factories, or energy and transport businesses which have a physical presence in lots of different parts of the country.  

“I think there is significant new opportunity for those businesses to show the contribution they’re making, so obviously we spent a lot of time with those clients thinking about how they can tell the story of their contribution in all parts of the country.” With Burnham’s philosophy of Manchesterism, and the practical implications of the Makerfield test, it is unsurprising that consultants are advising their clients to lean into the devolution angle.  

Momentum is building in the industry, especially ahead of the much-anticipated budget due later this month. Connect Group chief executive Andy Sawford told PRWeek: “Many clients and projects were holding back through late April and into May to assess the outcome of the [local and mayoral] elections that took place, amid the speculation about a change in Prime Minister. 

“The effect of this was modest growth over Q2, matching the modest growth in the broader economy. We saw a late July bounce in activity, with clients keen to engage with the new-look Andy Burnham Government, and this looks set to continue.” 

This prediction was supported by Alastair McCapra, chief executive of the CIPR: “We’d expect activity to pick up more later in Q3 and into Q4. Portfolios have only just settled after the July reshuffle, and the Parliamentary [Business and] Legislation Committee must fit the new Prime Minister’s priorities into an already crowded session while departments compete for limited parliamentary time. Lobbyists will want their clients heard while those decisions are still pending. 

“If power shifts into the hands of devolved administrations, lobbying will follow, and it must not take Westminster’s opaque culture of influence with it.” 

Before Starmer left office in July, he commissioned a report that was published by the Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) recommending significant changes to lobbying rules. While the government is yet to say anything about the report, the Cabinet Office has promised a response “in due course”. 

Regarding its publication, McCapra hailed the EIC report as “a significant moment that validates our position and our efforts to bring about change” – but that it is “concerning” that Burnham has said little about the issue since coming to power. 

McCapra’s colleague Jon Gerlis, the CIPR’s head of public relations and policy, said that their organisation will “continue our work to ensure the Government recognises the importance of greater transparency and accountability when it comes to lobbying and will be making the case for them to adopt the EIC’s proposals”. 

On the recommended extension of lobbying regulation, Connect’s Sawford says: “The Mandelson scandal and Andy Burnham’s emphasis on ‘restoring trust’, along with related debates about political donations, does drive the conversation about regulation of lobbying. An improved framework must reflect the full range of lobbying activity, including that carried out by industry, trade bodies and charities, not just public affairs agencies.” 
 

Considering the Mandelson scandal was the nail in the coffin for the Starmer administration, it might be apt for Burnham to prioritise lobbying regulation in order to ensure his government shows it has learned from the politically fatal mistakes of the first half of the Labour government.