Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill 2013-14 (2013/7/1]

 The Bill introduces a statutory register of consultant lobbyists and establishes a Registrar to enforce the registration requirements regulates more closely election campaign spending by those not standing for election or registered as political parties strengthens the legal requirements placed on trade unions in relation to their obligation to keep their list of members up to date. The section of the bill dealing with ‘non-party campaigning’ is said to be seriously underestimating the value and importance of ensuring that civil society has a voice during an election. When just 42% of the public are interested in politics now is not the time to throw an ambiguous rulebook at those bodies whose activities might actually help interest the public in politics.