David Cameron’s links to Greensill have brought the issue of lobbying back into the spotlight. Next month the Committee on Standards will be progressing its wide-ranging inquiry into All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) – the informal cross-party organisations run by and for MPs. Many choose to bring in organisations from outside Parliament to administer their activities.
The early stages of the resumed inquiry will focus on the risks of APPGs being used as a vehicle for improper access or influence. It’s the first investigation of its kind since the last Standards Committee probe in 2013; since then the number of such groups have ballooned further, with more than 700 APPGs now active across Parliament. Mr S therefore thought it was time to take a look at which firms are providing secretarial support for the most APPGs, according to parliament’s own register.
Heading the list is Connect, co-owned by former Labour MP Andy Sawford, with a whopping 11 groups ranging from apprenticeships to ‘working at height’ and including the devolution, district councils and West Midlands bodies.
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