The registration of lobbyists in the Scottish Parliament: The lessons for communications professionals

A key issue that has shaped opinion on ethics in the fields of public relations and public affairs in Scotland since 2000‐2001 has been the debate on the proposed registration of lobbyists by the Standards Committee of the Scottish Parliament. This paper summarises some of the key issues that emerged in this debate, drawing out some of the wider lessons for the PR industry as a whole. It illustrates how well‐meaning attempts to prevent improper influence over legislators can have broader ethical implications for those engaged in public affairs. It also highlights how narrow perceptions of the role of the so‐called “lobbyist” had a major impact on how the issue was dealt with. It argues that politicians, the media and others have relatively limited understanding of the range of activities that public relations and public affairs practitioners undertake and remain influenced by perceptions that owe more to the North American experience than that of the UK.