PRCA statement following The Times report on concealed campaigning
The Times reported yesterday that a PR firm has launched a group called Justice for Property Rights, which was set up in “direct opposition to” the government’s leasehold reforms. Spreckley, the firm involved, are facing calls to reveal who is behind its latest campaign against government leasehold reforms.
The practice, sometimes referred to as astroturfing, is not legitimate lobbying. It is a deliberate attempt to manufacture the appearance of public support while concealing who is really behind a campaign. The PRCA believe strongly that the public and our elected representatives have a right to know who is seeking to influence decisions. Any campaign that disguises its true sponsor as spontaneous grassroots movement undermines confidence in both public affairs and democratic decision-making.
Louise Whatham, Head of Public Affairs, said “The PRCA believes that professional, transparent and ethical lobbying has an important role to play in a healthy democracy.
Astroturfing flies in the face of this and is a deliberate attempt to conceal from the public and our politicians who is behind a campaign. The PRCA condemns this behaviour, which would not be allowed under our gold standards Code for Professional Lobbying were they one of our members.”
