The Times has a report about the apparent sale of "access" to NuLabour Ministers and Policy Advisors at the forthcoming Labour Party conference, by the Bell Pottinger Public Affairs company ("specialising in political, government and public affairs consultancy services.")
Apparently such "packages" could about cost £ 5000 a time, depending on what other "consultancy services" the gullible corporate clients sign up for.
The Times article also says that
In addition, Labour is offering companies and special interest groups the opportunity “to engage first hand” with ministers and policy advisers who work in areas relevant to their business for £1,500 a head.
The e-mail promises dinners with Stephen Timms, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and leading Brownite, on Monday, and Richard Caborn, the Minister of Sport, on Wednesday.It also promises two meetings of particular interest to to BPPA’s health-related clients, who include BUPA. These are with Caroline Flint, the Public Health Minister, recently charged with improving the nation’s fitness, and Kevin Barron, the Labour chairman of the Commons Health Select Committee.
The most high-profile event is on Tuesday when BPPA clients are invited to meet Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor, for drinks. About six to eight people attend every dinner, while 100 people come to the parties.
Wether such schemes by political lobbyists actually offer their clients real value for money, given how little attention span for policy details these Ministers seem to have, is open to question.
Any shareholders of public companies which fall for this sort of thing, ought to be asking serious questions of their board of directors.
It is telling that BPPA are not members of the Association of Professional Political Consultants who at least have a Code of Conduct.
Last night the Committee on Standards in Public Life admitted that it was not a subject it had so far looked at.
Why would anyone pay £X,000 to "engage" with a politician unless their business could benefit from that engagement? As you say, if the businesspeople concerned stand to gain nothing, they can expect aggravation from shareholders.
Therefore (and I don't know which is true) it seems that either the ministers are corrupt or the lobbyists are fraudsters. Perhaps the Labour Party would care to enlighten us?