The Future of Public Trust
Lobbying is central to democracy; an interest group system is -
alongside parties, elections, parliaments, executives and bureaucracies -
core to the workings of a free political system. But with this comes a
professional responsibility to ensure appropriate standards of conduct
and to be seen to be acting ethically. There is also an opportunity here
for leadership and renewal on the part of those bodies which represent
public affairs practitioners, ECPA included. We have a role to play in
bringing together professionals; helping to train, educate and motivate
them; defending their interests and values to policy-makers; and
offering more proactive and vigorous direction to efforts to inform
the public about the legitimate role of lobbying.
From the Preface by Tom Spencer and Conor McGrath