PPT Presentation: Corruption Beyond Bribery (Sussex Centre for Corruption Research)

Corruption Beyond Bribery

lobbying, ethics and the law Sussex Centre for Corruption Research September 9th 2013

Robert Barrington Executive Director, Transparency International UK

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

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Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 Published December 2012

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Corruption Perceptions Index

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

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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

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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

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Is there a problem with lobbying?

• What is the evidence?

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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)

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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?

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Is lobbying the problem?

• Revolving door • Parliamentary expenses • APPGs • Honours system • Political party funding

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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

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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

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What does a good lobbying law look like?

• US register of lobbyists • UK • Everywhere else

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Is legislation the solution?

Learning from the Bribery Act – – – – – –

Adequate procedures Culture Personal integrity Tone from the top Transparency Enforcement

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Ethics & integrity – a lost cause?

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UK politics suffers continuous scandals

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Money lies at the heart of many – and there is a supply of money

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There is also a demand – from Parliamentarians and public servants

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Laws cannot mandate ethics and personal integrity

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What can?

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www.transparency.org www.transparency.org.uk

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