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Lobbying Transparency (In-house Lobbyists) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 6 of 2026–27

Approximate read time: 15 minutes

The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the Lobbying Transparency (In-house Lobbyists) Bill [HL] at second reading on 3 July 2026.  

• The bill is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour). It would widen the scope of the statutory register provided for by the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 to cover the activities of in-house lobbyists. 
• The 2014 act currently requires only certain consultant lobbyists who lobby ministers or specified senior officials on behalf of third parties to register. In-house lobbyists, who lobby on behalf of their employer, are exempted.  
• The coalition government argued against a single register to avoid duplication with government transparency data. However, advocates for a register covering all lobbying activity argue that a single source would improve transparency. Sector bodies including the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations and Communications Association have called for such a register.  
• The Committee on Standards in Public Life and the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee have instead previously called for improvements to government transparency data. Both have said the case for an expanded lobbying register would be strengthened should the government not improve the quality of its transparency data.  
• The Labour government has said it keeps transparency around lobbying under review. In March 2026 it asked the Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) to conduct a review into lobbying. The EIC’s final report is expected shortly.

Image by Can Pac Swire on Flickr.