Practical Techniques for Effective Lobbying

Overview

This Briefing shows commercial organisations and public and voluntary bodies how the lobbying system works, how to monitor its activities, and how to make it function for them.

The government makes thousands of decisions every day – on policy, legislation and regulation. And while politicians and officials talk of open government and consultation, the sometimes baffling ‘system’ in which they work often prevents organisations from making themselves heard. Organisations must deal with the system either because they have a specific concern, or because they want to inform legislators and officials before the need to lobby arises.

Lobbying doesn’t only apply to dealings with politicians (often officials are instrumental in the issues concerning organisations). Nor does it automatically mean pressure – most dealings are settled by quiet negotiation. But understanding the system and the process in which it works is essential to lobbying effectively. Uncoordinated, uncontrolled and badly planned approaches will do more harm than good and risk antagonising the people you most want to influence.

Practical Techniques for Effective Lobbying tackles all of these issues in a matter-of-fact way, stripping away the mystique that can surround the governmental decision-making process, in order to show how you can lobby without unnecessary fuss or expenditure.

Content

1 Introduction

• What is lobbying?

2 The system and how it works

• The route map

3 How decisions are made

• The passage of UK legislation and regulation
• Local government policy making
• EU decision-making and legislation
• How pressure groups can influence the system

4 Running an in-house operation

• Skills and resources needed
• Using help

5 Refresher course/checklist for success

• 20 things you can do to improve your strike rate

The author

Charles Miller followed advisory work on taxation and pollution control within Whitehall with work as an international political risk analyst for underwriters at Lloyd’s of London, as a UK and EC political adviser at Tate & Lyle, as managing director of a lobbying firm and as a researcher within the House of Commons. He went on to found The Public Policy Unit, which became one of the UK’s largest political and regulatory consultancies. In 1999 he merged PPU with Citigate Westminster to form Citigate Public Affairs.

Other works authored by Charles include Lobbying – Understanding and Influencing the Corridors of Power, The Phenomenon of Lobbying, Winning Friends, Influencing People and The Politicos Guide to Lobbying. He also co-authored The Commercial Lobbyists and has worked as a broadcaster on lobbying. Charles has advised on over 30 M&A cases and was a founder and secretary of the Association of Professional Political Consultants. He specialises in transport, competition, financial services and deregulation.