We will get nowhere in the lobbying debate while it is conceived as a clash between evil corporations who lobby and well-meaning interest groups who do not

In order to create an appropriate regulatory framework for ‘the lobbying industry’ we need first to take seriously the size and scope of the industry, argues Phil Parvin. Safeguards to ensure economic power does not simply translate into political power are important but we also need to accept that lobbying is a fundamental aspect of democratic decision-making.