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PR uncovered: Top lobbyists boast of how they influence the PM

Top executives at Bell Pottinger secretly recorded boasting of their access to the heart of Government.

Foreign Office approved peer’s role as tax haven lobbyist

Henry Bellingham

Despite potential conflict of interest Lord Blencathra's role as lobbyist was approved.

Lobby exposĂ© highlights ‘broken’ Appointments Committee

Revolving door- Shutterstock/SVLuma

The 'scandal waiting to happen' that just keeps going.

Review: Financial lobby out in force at party conferences

Westminster

Private Eye reports on what lobbyists get up to at conference.

Latest Stories

Government’s new lobbying proposals slated by MPs
July 13, 2012 | by | Comments Off
house of parl

Powerful MPs’ committee says government lobbying plans should be redrafted or scrapped.

Maldives’ new PR firm under fire
May 2, 2012 | by | 18 Comments
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New regime hires PR firm to put positive gloss on Maldives’ image.

Bell Pottinger targeted campaigner on Wikipedia
December 8, 2011 | by | 4 Comments
Sarawak Destruction, by Angus Stickler

Lobbying firm adds criticism into Wikipedia page of campaigner.

PR Uncovered: What Bell Pottinger said
December 7, 2011 | by | Comments Off
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Read the highlights from the undercover meeting with Bell Pottinger executives.

Revealed: The Wikipedia pages changed by Bell Pottinger
December 7, 2011 | by | 1 Comment
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Bell Pottinger admits changing its clients’ profiles on Wikipedia.

‘Uzbeks’ told reform need not be fast
December 7, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Cotton picker Uzbekistan - Flickr-antelaaava

How Bell Pottinger lobbyists put a positive spin on child labour.

PR firm ‘attacked’ critics of Rwandan government
December 6, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Paul Kagame

PR firm with links to Lib Dems explained how it worked for Rwandan government.

We can get to Vince Cable claims Bell Pottinger
December 6, 2011 | by | Comments Off
VinceCable

Senior executives from PR firm claim an extensive network of contacts within Parliament.

PR Uncovered: Bell Pottinger’s ‘extensive connections’ in Parliament
December 6, 2011 | by | 2 Comments
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Leading PR firm claims to have links into many top ministers.

PR Uncovered: Lifting the travel ban on a dictator
December 5, 2011 | by | Comments Off
stoplukashenko by IGAR

Former British diplomat helped convince EU Belarus had reformed

We wrote Sri Lanka President’s civil war speech, say lobbyists
December 5, 2011 | by | 7 Comments
TamilsbyBenSutherland on Flickr

Bell Pottinger claims to have penned a key note speech to the UN for the Sri Lankan President.

PR uncovered: Top lobbyists boast of how they influence the PM
December 5, 2011 | by | 2 Comments
Handshake-shutterstock_66638836

Top executives at Bell Pottinger secretly recorded boasting of their access to the heart of Government.

PR company proposed campaign against Sting
December 1, 2011 | by | Comments Off
President Nazarbayev - Flickr/Akmescitli

Star had withdrawn from performance in Kazakhstan to support striking oil workers.

PR Uncovered: Bell Pottinger’s links to government
December 1, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Tim-Bell-001

A revolving door between Bell Pottinger and the Tory party gives PR firm strong links to power.

The firm ‘trusted by world leaders’
November 25, 2011 | by | 1 Comment
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Presentation lists Prince Charles, Belarusian president and Sultan of Brunei.

Bell Pottinger acted for controversial Yemen organisation
September 1, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Yemen by Sallam

Lord Bell’s London PR firm worked for Yemen organisation for more than two months.

Analysis

Analysis: Cameron’s light of transparency on lobbying is too dim
January 20, 2012 | by | Comments Off
torchlight

Consultation document on lobbying register falls a long way short of PM's promise.

Analysis: Lobbying must be done in the open
December 6, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Oliver Wright

Representation must be done in the open says the Independent's Whitehall editor.

How the Bureau investigated Bell Pottinger
December 5, 2011 | by | 1 Comment
uzbek cotton pickers by abbeyman on Flickr.JPG

The Bureau team posed as representatives of the Uzbek cotton industry.

Analysis: Why did TV firm doubling as PR agent for Malaysia set up in London?
November 15, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Palm oil plantation Sarawak - Wakx

More concerns raised about lack of regulation and disclosure of lobbying industry in Britain.

Lobbying Latest

PCC rejects Bell Pottinger’s complaint against Bureau investigation
July 26, 2012 | by | Comments Off
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Bureau vindicated in its use of undercover filming to expose the 'dark arts' of lobbying.

Chime profits fall in wake of Bureau sting
May 10, 2012 | by | Comments Off
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Lord Bell's PR company suffers a surprise slide in revenues.

PRCA clears Bell Pottinger of exaggeration and improper influence
April 10, 2012 | by | Comments Off
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The PR watchdog exonerates Bell Pottinger without fully examining the evidence.

Did Lord Bell mislead Newsnight viewers over Bureau reporter claims?
April 10, 2012 | by | 3 Comments
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Was Lord Bell right to say Bureau reporter asked him to exaggerate? You decide.

Lobbyist group calls for statutory register following Bureau revelations
December 9, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Whispering : shutterstock

Public Relations Consultants Association calls for statutory register 'without delay'.

Lord Bell questions money claims by Bell Pottinger executive
December 8, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Flickr:englishpen

Chairman of Bell Pottinger was wrong, says Lord Bell.

Lord Bell orders internal investigation
December 8, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Lord Bell- The Independent

Head of PR firm admits staff are 'searching their souls to decide whether they did something wrong'.

Press coverage of the Bureau’s Bell Pottinger investigation
December 6, 2011 | by | Comments Off
_M-j-H_/Flickr

Global coverage for the Bureau's investigation into Bell Pottinger.

Lobbying in Video

In Video: The Bell Pottinger executives filmed
December 4, 2011 | by | Comments Off
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Undercover filming reveals Bell Pottinger's 'dark arts'.

In Video: BTP Advisers exposed
December 6, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Meeting in progress - flickr:songallery

Senior executives from PR firm, BTP Advisers pitched to undercover Bureau journalists.

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Lobbying

Government’s new lobbying proposals slated by MPs
July 13, 2012 | by | Comments Off
house of parl

Powerful MPs' committee says government lobbying plans should be redrafted or scrapped.

How ‘big four’ get inside track by loaning staff to government
July 10, 2012 | by | 1 Comment
Young Professionals - shutterstock

Main accountancy firms 'loaned' 15 staff to Treasury last year.

Campaigners and lobbyists lambast register plans
March 15, 2012 | by | 1 Comment
Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v1.0

Criticism over plans to exclude in-house lobbyists from a statutory register in parliament.

Lobbying: Calls for transparency over former MPs’ access to Parliament
December 16, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Revolving door- Flickr/chasing butterflies

Former MPs can apply for passes that give them access to Parliament.

Members’ Passes explained
December 14, 2011 | by | Comments Off
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Why there is a need for transparency about former MPs' passes.

Chatham House’s independent expert is lobbyist
December 8, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Chathamhouserule by Mark Hillary at Flickr

Lobbying links to respected foreign affairs think-tank.

Gove aide given parliamentary pass while at New Schools Network
November 18, 2011 | by | Comments Off
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Dominic Cummings given parliamentary access by Michael Gove when at free schools charity.

Lover and aide claims MP Mike Hancock urged lobby group to pay her
November 18, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Katia Zatuliveter - PA

Researcher claims MP persuaded controversial group to pay her.

Lobbying debate to hear MP’s calls for industry clean-up
November 1, 2011 | by | Comments Off
House of Commons- Flickr/UK Parliament

MPs to debate lobbying, as questions are asked in the House about Eric Pickles's five-star dinner.

Loophole means lobbying at party conferences goes undeclared
October 25, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Conservative Party Conference 2011- Flickr/NCVO

Party conferences not covered by rules that oblige ministers to declare meetings.

Lobbying Analysis

Analysis: Former MPs – where are they now?
Alan Milburn - Flickr_Downing Street

The former MPs who have parliamentary passes.

Analysis: Unhealthy friendships with Department of Health
November 25, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Andrew Lansley- Flickr/NHSE

Andrew Lansley's special adviser worked for PR firm with food and health interests.

Analysis: How rules allow ministers to keep meetings with lobbyists under wraps
October 24, 2011 | by | Comments Off
Central lobby-Flickr/Keithernesto

The PM promised 'transparency on lobbying', so why are there still gaping holes in the rules?