MPs 'swayed more by charities than by businesses'

Finance | Gareth Jones | 1 Apr 2007

Charities have more influence on MPs than big business, according to research commissioned by the Hansard Society. The study found that 62 per cent of MPs claim to be more persuaded by arguments put forward by charities and interest groups than businesses. A healthy 91 and 88 per cent said charities and interest groups respectively are effective at communicating, while just 57 per cent said the same of businesses.

MPs considered the two most important factors when dealing with lobbying organisations to be the impact on their constituents, which was highlighted by 95 per cent, and accountability of the lobbying organisation, selected by 93 per cent.

Meanwhile, Westminster Challenge, the organisation set up to engage MPs in the work of charities, has published research which indicates that MPs are not spending as much time helping charities as the public would like. On average, respondents from the general public stated MPs should spend 7.1 hours a week on charitable causes, but believed that in reality they only spend 4.5 hours.

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