Lobbying Definition

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Below is UKPAC’s definition of lobbying. Guidance on some of the terms used and a list of public affairs services are also provided. It is this definition that the UKPAC applies when considering whether or not an organisation or individual should register.

Download the definition here: Definition of Lobbying

Definition of Lobbying and Related Matters

Lobbying means, in a professional capacity, attempting to influence, or advising those who wish to influence, the UK Government, Parliament, the devolved legislatures or administrations, regional or local government or other public bodies on any matter within their competence.

Lobbyists are those who, in a professional capacity, work to influence, or advise those who wish to influence, the institutions of government in the UK, in respect to:

  • the formulation, modification or adoption of any legislative measure (including the development of proposals for legislation);
  • the formulation, modification or adoption of a rule, regulation or any other programme, policy or position;
  • the administration or execution of a governmental or other public programme or policy within the UK (including the negotiation, award or administration of a public contract, grant, loan, permit or licence).

Institutions of government means the UK Government, Parliament, the devolved legislatures or administrations, regional or local government or other public bodies Public Affairs services means the provision of:

  • lobbying or advice on lobbying as defined above;
  • services with intent to assist lobbying, including the provision of monitoring, public affairs and programme support, strategic communications advice, profile raising, decision-making analyses and perception auditing services .

Public Affairs practitioner means any individual who, in a professional capacity, provides, as a substantive and sustained part of their responsibilities, public affairs services as defined above.

Supplementary Guidance

As the words “in a professional capacity” indicate, private individuals seeking to influence public office-holders are intended to be excluded from the ambit of UKPAC and the requirement to register. So too are those who are not providing public affairs services but who (for example, as heads of not-for-profit organisations or Board members of commercial companies) engage occasionally with the institutions of government as a purely incidental part of their role. Nonetheless UKPAC would hope that both they and private individuals engaged in lobbying would observe the Guiding Principles designed to encourage good conduct by all who seek to influence the institutions of government.