There’s openness, then there’s overkill

That was David Cameron speaking early in 2010 before he became Prime Minister. He said he wanted to shine “the light of transparency” on lobbying so that politics “comes clean about who is buying power and influence”.

It’s a quote that’s been revisited recently as the issue has become more about who in power is selling influence.

The Government is now consulting on legislation. It’s expected in next month’s Queen’s Speech and the main proposal is a compulsory register of lobbyists.

I’m all in favour of openness but I doubt compelling single-purpose trade bodies such as the BRC to register - which of course would cost us - could provide anyone with information that isn’t available already.

There’s nothing sinister or secretive about what the BRC is. We do what it says on the tin. We represent the retail sector. Our members are listed on our website.

Some of the basic rules of better regulation are that you should clearly define and measure the actual detriment you’re aiming to address and then target the measures on those responsible for the problem. This plan doesn’t seem to meet either of those conditions.

I believe any individual or group speaking for themselves or the membership they clearly represent should not have to register. That means trade associations, but also businesses’ in-house teams, charities and civic groups.

In other words, only include lobbyists acting on behalf of third parties, where it wouldn’t otherwise be obvious who stood to benefit from the lobbying.

And I’d also like some recognition of the positive contribution our work makes to legislation. The BRC helps governments make better decisions. We provide evidence and expertise on how proposals will affect customers, businesses and the wider economy. We point out flaws and help them avoid the unintended.

We persuaded Welsh politicians to accept that customers can’t buy fresh meat and fish without a bag so that bag should be free. We persuaded Westminster MPs that shops can’t restock or clean tobacco shelves unless the law lets them open the new doors or blinds occasionally and, in Scotland and Northern Ireland, we won sunset clauses that will force reviews of their damaging retail levies.

The ‘VAT on hot food’ fiasco demonstrates exactly why government should be open to honest input from those with real-life experience.

When did you last buy a pasty? Is a hot cross bun bread? What’s the difference between warm and cooling? Fascinating questions, but distractions that a bit of consultation could have avoided at a time when politicians should have other priorities.

And incidentally, I’ve yet to hear what our regulatory ‘one out’ will be in return for meeting these new costs and reporting demands. Now that’s more of a scandal.

• Stephen Robertson, director-general, British Retail Consortium.