Scots charities attack lobbying transparency groups as 'London-centric conspiracy theorists'

The self-styled “expose” includes an interactive online map of Edinburgh which shows the key players and the proximity of their offices to the Scottish Parliament.

Many of the same companies are featured on a similar map of London lobbyists which was previously created by Spinwatch with the support of Unlock Democracy and the ERS.

All three organisations have long campaigned for stricter lobbying rules both north and south of the border and ‘Holyrood Exposed’ was intended to up the ante ahead of expected Scottish Government lobbying legislation.

But the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ Director of Public Affairs, John Downie, who speaks for 1,500 members, has criticised the dossier and claimed it is “a completely different ball game” in Scotland.

He said: “The apparently 'shadowy' world of Scottish lobbying was supposedly 'exposed’ last weekend by a new guide to the 'influence industry’ brought to us by the London-centric conspiracy theorists Spinwatch, Unlock Democracy and the Electoral Reform Society.

“These self-appointed judge and jurors over lobbying in Scotland don’t seem to understand or care that it’s a completely different ball game here. But of course their report, which really isn’t worth that paper it’s written on, isn't really about lobbying in Scotland. It’s just a shoddy tactical ploy in their attempt to influence the bigger game (in their eyes) in Westminster.

“The fact is democracy is thriving is Scotland. Participation is thriving too, so we don't need unelected and unaccountable lobbyists (because that's what they are as much as all the organisations they cite in their report) telling us how Scottish democracy should be run.

“The report’s 'hook' was to focus on organisations with offices in close proximity to the Scottish Parliament because apparently that’s what matters most if you’re a lobbyist. So, they missed out all the main Glasgow-based business lobbyists.”

Downie also launched a stinging attack on the report’s emphasis on former politicians and special advisers who now act on behalf of private public affairs firms.

He said: “The revolving door aspect is odd as the register of lobbyists they advocate as a solution wouldn’t help with that at all. Any register is never going to prevent lobbyists exploiting personal relationships: that all happens in informal ways, which even the most comprehensive register wouldn’t capture.

“SCVO is not opposed to having more transparency in lobbying but we firmly believe that the burden of responsibility for this should rest with the people holding public office – in Scotland that means MSPs, government ministers and officials.

“In fact we by and large agree with the Scottish Government’s proposals so long as any register is light touch. And yes it should include charities too because we are some of the strongest lobbyists in Scotland. While we’re at it, special advisors’ and senior civil servants’ interactions with lobbyists should be covered too – with them taking responsibility for it.

“The crucial point in all of this is that of course lobbyists have to take responsibility for their actions but it’s MSPs who are representing the public and who are duty bound to be open and transparent. We shouldn’t sit back and let them palm off this obligation on to lobbyists.”

Tamasin Cave of Spinwatch said her organisation, as well as Unlock Democracy and ERS, welcomed SCVO’s commitment to transparency in lobbying and agreed that a register must make public all interactions between special advisors and senior civil servants, and include details of the so-called “revolving door”.

“MSPs and officials should be and are covered by rules on transparency, but we don’t agree that the burden of responsibility for transparency should fall solely on those lobbied,” she added.

“The public must be able to know about both sides of the relationship. It is far less burdensome to ask lobbyists to broadly state on a public register whom they are lobbying and what for, rather than require every MSP, minister, official, government adviser, or regulator to declare who has approached them.”

Cave also hit back at Downie’s “London-centric” jibe.

She said: “We have lobbied for more transparency in lobbying in Scotland, from Scotland, since 2001. In the past 15 years, we have observed the commercial lobbying industry as Holyrood’s powers have grown.

“This is the Scottish government’s opportunity to go further than Westminster and introduce real transparency to protect the reputation it has for open policy-making.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We remain committed to introduce this bill during the current parliamentary session as part of the Programme for Government.”