The Times took a look at the All-Party Group on Mobile Communications, which is a front for the clients of lobbyists Political Intelligence.Neither the parliamentary register nor the group’s own website reveals the lobbyists’ ultimate clients — including internet service providers whose telephony services compete head to head with the mobile industry. This is an apparent breach of parliamentary rules which state: “Where a public relations agency provides the assistance, the ultimate client should be named.”
Sir Philip Mawer, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, is on the case. Derek Wyatt MP, the vice-chairman of the group, admits the lobbyists’ clients included the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association and the European Internet Services Providers Association, whose profits are obvioulsy subject to regulatory risk.
Luckily for the providers of internet telephony, the group always seems willing to have-a-go at mobile companies for overcharging consumers, building mobile phone masts and marketing mobile phones to kids. Derek Wyatt reckons Political Intelligence would be straight out the door if they tried to influence things. It makes you wonder what Political Intelligence’s clients are paying them for if not pay-as-you-go policies from this group?
