1. Corruption Beyond Bribery
lobbying, ethics and the law
Sussex Centre for Corruption Research
September 9th 2013
Robert Barrington
Executive Director, Transparency International UK

2. Transparency International
Global anti-corruption NGO
Founded in 1993
Chapters in 100 countries
Research and advocacy

3. Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 Published December 2012

4. Corruption Perceptions Index

5. What is the post-Bribery Act challenge?
Using research to set priorities
Using research to support advocacy 5

6. What do opinion surveys tell us?
Is this potentially corrupt?
80% - a public official taking a job with a company that s/he was previously responsible for regulating
86% - peerage for a businessman who has been a large political party donor UK Corruption Survey, TI, 2010
67% - Political parties in the UK are corrupt or extremely corrupt  GCB, TI, 2013
69% - it is “too easy for former ministers to get jobs that allow them to make improper use of their time in government” YouGov, January 2012 6

7. Is there a problem with lobbying?
To what extent is this country’s government run by a few big entities acting in their own best interests? GCB, TI, 2013

8. Is there a problem with lobbying?
What is the evidence?
Select Committee Chair’s independence being compromised (Yeo)
conflicts of interest with a Prime Ministerial adviser (Coulson/Crosby)
improper Ministerial access (Werrity/Fox)
cabs for hire (Byers)
Parliamentarians’ expenses (still in denial)
honours for donors (constantly in denial) 8

9. Is there a problem with lobbying?
Is it corrupt?
What is the impact - who are the victims?
Is it a problem of supply or demand?
Could the current system be made to work?
Is there a role for TI? 9

10. Is lobbying the problem?
Revolving door
Parliamentary expenses
APPGs
Honours system
Political party funding

11. What do the scandals tell us?
There is big money involved – but sometimes very small money
The media play an important role
Senior and well-established figures are vulnerable
Nobody seems to be in charge 11

12. What is the nature of the problem?
Understanding the problem
Who is lobbied
How they are lobbied
What they are lobbied about
How to influence without lobbying 12

13. What does a good lobbying law look like?
US register of lobbyists UK
Everywhere else 13

14. Is legislation the solution?
Learning from the Bribery Act
Adequate procedures
Culture
Personal integrity
Tone from the top
Transparency
Enforcement 14

15. Ethics & integrity – a lost cause?
UK politics suffers continuous scandals
Money lies at the heart of many – and there is a supply of money
There is also a demand – from Parliamentarians and public servants
Laws cannot mandate ethics and personal integrity
What can?