Lobbying act targeted powerful shadowy groups, not charities

In response to Polly Toynbee’s article (Cameron passed a lobbying act, but it was never meant to curb corruption, 15 April), as a Liberal Democrat minister in coalition, I was involved in drawing up the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014. At no point did I, or any of my colleagues, ever discuss introducing measures designed to target the National Union of Students because we “lived in terror” of it.

What we did discuss was the risk of groups similar to the US National Rifle Association emerging as major players in UK politics. These organisations support a preferred candidate by viciously targeting their main opponent, but because they act “independently”, their spending does not count against their favoured candidate’s election spending limit.

I regret that the measures we introduced haven’t stopped these shadowy non-party campaigning organisations from throwing significant amounts of money, which might originate from foreign sources, at Facebook advertising and billboards. This happened in the 2019 general election and is happening now in the Scottish elections. That would have been a valid and accurate point to make.
Tom Brake
Deputy leader, House of Commons, 2012-15

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