Agenda item

Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill

It was moved by Councillor Mazher Iqbal, seconded by Councillor Mick Rooney, that this Council:-

(a)      notes the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill;

(b)      believes it is outrageous that whilst the Bill could stop campaigners and charities it doesn’t stop commercial lobbyists from influencing government policies and believes this is a further example of the Government standing up for the wrong people;

(c)       further believes that the Bill is a cynical attempt by the Government to insulate their policies from legitimate, democratic criticism and for example could stop organisations such as the National Union of Students from being able to hold the Liberal Democrat Party to account for their broken promises on tuition fees;

(d)      notes comments from the Royal College of Nursing that the Bill will “place unwarranted restrictions on many organisations that seek to legitimately and impartially campaign, provide commentary and influence party policy in the run up to a general election”;

(e)      believes that the Bill isn’t about transparency, but is about gagging charities and campaigners whilst doing nothing to address the real ‘big money’ in politics; and

(f)       believes that whilst the Government have been forced into some concessions after pressure from charities and campaigners, the concessions don’t go far enough and the Bill still stands up for vested interests.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Andrew Sangar, seconded by Councillor Roger Davison, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.        the deletion of paragraphs (b) to (f); and

2.        the addition of new paragraphs (b) to (h) as follows:-

(b)      recalls the numerous scandals involving big money in politics under the last Government including the Bernie Ecclestone, Hinduja Brothers and Cash for Peerages scandals;

(c)       furthermore, reminds Members of the 2010 lobbying scandal, which engulfed a number of Labour MPs – including the former MP for Sheffield Central – in which one ex-Minister described himself as a ‘cab for hire’;

(d)      praises the decision of Liberal Democrats in Government to fight for a fairer politics by tackling the big money in politics and the unhealthy influence of lobbyists;

(e)      however recognises the legitimate concerns raised by charities and therefore welcomes the pause on the Bill and the numerous concessions agreed by the Government;

(f)       believes that the final legislation will not restrict charities from campaigning on national issues as they have done in previous general elections;

(g)      notes that, among others, the Bill has been backed by former Labour MP and Speaker of The House of Commons, Michael Martin; and

(h)      yet believes that the current national Labour leadership is under such submission to the vested interests within its own party that it is unwilling to support moves to make politics more transparent.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived. 

The original Motion was then put to the vote and carried, as follows:-

RESOLVED:  That this Council:-

(a)      notes the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill;

(b)      believes it is outrageous that whilst the Bill could stop campaigners and charities it doesn’t stop commercial lobbyists from influencing government policies and believes this is a further example of the Government standing up for the wrong people;

(c)       further believes that the Bill is a cynical attempt by the Government to insulate their policies from legitimate, democratic criticism and for example could stop organisations such as the National Union of Students from being able to hold the Liberal Democrat Party to account for their broken promises on tuition fees;

(d)      notes comments from the Royal College of Nursing that the Bill will “place unwarranted restrictions on many organisations that seek to legitimately and impartially campaign, provide commentary and influence party policy in the run up to a general election”;

(e)      believes that the Bill isn’t about transparency, but is about gagging charities and campaigners whilst doing nothing to address the real ‘big money’ in politics; and

(f)       believes that whilst the Government have been forced into some concessions after pressure from charities and campaigners, the concessions don’t go far enough and the Bill still stands up for vested interests.

(Note: Councillors Robert Murphy and Jillian Creasy voted for Paragraphs (a) to (d) and (f) and abstained on Paragraph (e) of the Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)