Page 5 | I'm a lobbyist. AMA.

nachdemregen · 2023-08-30T18:18:55+00:00

As above, I work in public affairs, aka lobbying. I usually describe myself as a lobbyist as most people look at me blankly when I say 'public affairs'!

Original poster

nachdemregen · 31/08/2023 08:59

BitOutOfPractice · 31/08/2023 08:32

And i said, @nachdemregen that Tesco don’t want to trade successfully so they can give people access to cheap food. As a Corporation they don’t give two shiny shits about that. It is not their raison d’être. They do it to pay their shareholders. You are trying to put a glowy rose tinted gloss on what you do. Fair enough I guess, you’re PRing the PR. But it’s a very one sided view.

Im sure your tech firm has a similar agenda. Money. Not the good of mankind and you Are kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

Hmmm I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one!

I'd argue that if Tesco don't give access to quality food at a good price, shoppers will go elsewhere and they won't be able to reward their shareholders. So I see it as two sides of the same coin. I respect your point of view though.

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Original poster

nachdemregen · 31/08/2023 09:01

Diffrent · 31/08/2023 08:36

How easy or not is it to change from lobbying for one industry or company to another? I'm guessing not very if you need to have in depth understanding of the area you're working in maybe?

Some sectors are quite specialised (things like pharma, defence) and it's harder to move into those. Others are more generalist.

You get lots of lobbyists working for consultancies where they'll work across two or even three industries. It means they can't specialise but it is possible to move between. I've mainly done tech, but not exclusively.

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Diffrent · 31/08/2023 09:08

nachdemregen · 31/08/2023 09:01

Some sectors are quite specialised (things like pharma, defence) and it's harder to move into those. Others are more generalist.

You get lots of lobbyists working for consultancies where they'll work across two or even three industries. It means they can't specialise but it is possible to move between. I've mainly done tech, but not exclusively.

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Thanks. This is so interesting!

If you could pick any single area or organisation to lobby for - complete dream scenario, you magically have all the required qualifications, skills, etc for this one specific thing - what would it be?

Original poster

nachdemregen · 31/08/2023 09:14

Diffrent · 31/08/2023 09:08

Thanks. This is so interesting!

If you could pick any single area or organisation to lobby for - complete dream scenario, you magically have all the required qualifications, skills, etc for this one specific thing - what would it be?

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I'm a huge animal lover, so Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Dream job :)

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dontbenastyhaveapasty · 12/09/2023 14:21

Just resurrecting a thread from last week, with this little news story : https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/12/ministers-ignored-natural-england-advice-plans-rip-up-pollution-laws

Thanks so much lobbyists, now we can look forward to even more polluted waterways.

Lobbyists and their “word in your ear” special access successfully over-rode Natural England. Great. I hope you’re jolly pleased.

After all, what is democracy? What is the public interest? Or should we not worry our pretty heads with such “difficult” questions when there’s money to be made at the expense of the public good?

Ministers ignored Natural England’s advice on plans to rip up pollution laws

Correspondence shows nature watchdog had recommended that housebuilders pay for pollution

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/12/ministers-ignored-natural-england-advice-plans-rip-up-pollution-laws

justasking111 · 12/09/2023 16:58

Having had a blind eye turned to water boards this summer re dumping sewage into the sea including our nationalised dwr cymru I'm not surprised

Softleftpowerstance · 15/09/2023 13:28

I’d say the nutrient neutrality decision is a really healthy example of the arguments being played out in public and the government being very transparent and upfront about their decision making. Just because people don’t like the outcome doesn’t mean it’s dodgy. The govt has prioritised building houses, in the midst of a national housing crisis.

justasking111 · 15/09/2023 13:43

Softleftpowerstance · 15/09/2023 13:28

I’d say the nutrient neutrality decision is a really healthy example of the arguments being played out in public and the government being very transparent and upfront about their decision making. Just because people don’t like the outcome doesn’t mean it’s dodgy. The govt has prioritised building houses, in the midst of a national housing crisis.

Governments can prioritize building houses, individual councils can and do turn down planning daily.