19th April 2010

In a significant policy u-turn the Conservatives today committed to a statutory register of lobbying – the last major party to do so.

In their manifesto the Tories supported a voluntary code. But speaking live on a Question Time debate hosted by The Guardian and grassroots campaign group 38 Degrees, Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary who wrote the manifesto, said:

“We have said there needs to be a statutory register of interests.” Asked at the end of the programme to confirm the statement as it contradicts the manifesto, Hunt said: “We believe in a statutory code.”

Transparency campaigners welcomed the comments. David Miller, spokesperson for the Alliance of Lobbying Transparency, said:

"If this really is now the Tory policy this is a significant change. It means that all parties now agree with us that transparency can only be guaranteed by a statutory register of lobbyists. Eighteen months ago no major political party was prepared to sign up to meaningful action on lobbying. Public outrage and our campaign has forced them to take the first significant steps towards openness."