Lobbyists

• What is lobbying?


  The act of trying to persuade those in power to follow a particular course of action.
• What are lobbyists?

  Distinct organisations or individuals that are paid to help influence government policy. They also sell expert knowledge of the political process to those who can afford to hire them
• It is not uncommon for former politicians to become lobbyists, as they have easy access to current politicians through their existing network. This is known as the ‘revolving door’.
• At a basic level, lobbyists provide clients with a ‘map’ giving them advice to follow in order to achieve their goals, effectively giving clients a political blueprint to help put pressure on those in power.
• At a more advanced level, lobbyists will arrange events for their clients to have an opportunity to meet with those in power, often through corporate hospitality by offering political figures free tickets to sporting or cultural events, at which they will be sat next to clients who have paid for the privilege.
• How can lobbysists improve legislation?

  By offering advice and perspectives that may otherwise have been missed
• Why do lobbyists undermine a pluralist society?

  In selling their services, they benefit those with money, often at the expense of public interest
• How much money is spent by organisations on lobbying in the uK annually?

  Approximately £2 billion.
• An example of a lobbyist group that represents financial services, infrastructure companies, energy and transport

  The Cicero Group