The BBC One Show featured a debate on lobbying yesterday evening. I hope the Beeb will forgive me, but I typically have better things to do at 7pm on a weekday evening than watch a low brow news magazine programme, but I have just reviewed it on BBC iPlayer. You can do likewise by clicking here. You will find the piece about seven minutes in.
Lionel Zetter made the case for lobbying. He argues that policymakers are influenced by the power of the argument, rather than “my good looks and sparkling personality”. I certainly agree, although I personally have always been influenced by Lionel’s good looks and sparkling personality.
The case against lobbying was put by my old sparring partner, Tamsin Cave, of the ill-named (in my humble view) Alliance for Lobbying Transparency. Tamsin conjured up an image of a series of undercover monsters, called lobbyists (although I thought her description sounded more like X-Men) who apparently “control all aspects of our lives”. As the programme was broadcast before the watershed, I imagined millions of young children going to bed last night, asking “Mummy, daddy, please check under the bed to see if there are any lobbyists hiding”. Come on!
And another thing, Tamsin. You said that “no-one knows who is lobbying who”. As part of my defence of the English language, I hope you don’t mind if I point out that it should be “who is lobbying whom”.
Delighted Mark is influenced by my good looks and personality. Now all I need to do is bring them to bear on Tamasin Cave…….