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Code of Conduct
PREAMBLE
This Code of Conduct covers the activities of regulated political consultants (defined as APPC members and their political consultants) in relation to all UK institutions of Government. This Code applies equally to all clients, whether or not fee-paying.
It is a condition of membership of APPC that the member and its political consultants will accept and agree to abide by this Code and that members will be jointly and severally liable for the actions of their political consultants in relation to the Code. Regulated political consultants are required to endorse the Code and to adopt and observe the principles and duties set out in it in relation to their business dealings with clients and with institutions of government.
Other conditions of membership of APPC include:
· Undertaking an annual compliance procedure in respect of the Code
· Being bound by the terms of the APPC Complaints & Disciplinary Rules and Procedures
· Providing four times a year to APPC the names of all clients and political consultants during the previous three months for publication in the APPC Register
The Code of Conduct applies the principles that political consultants should be open and transparent in their dealings with parliamentarians or representatives of institutions of government; and that there should be no financial relationship between them. APPC members are determined to act at all times with the highest standards of integrity and in a professional and ethical manner reflecting the principles applied by this Code. In the view of APPC, it is inappropriate for a person to be both a legislator and a political consultant.
DEFINITIONS
“Political consultant” means a person offering consultancy services to a client on behalf of a member, whether that person is employed, full or part-time, or freelance or an intern.
“Institutions of Government” mean all United Kingdom, English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland central, regional and local government bodies and agencies, public bodies and political parties.
“Consultancy services” means offering any advice,
representation,research, monitoring or administrative assistance
predominantly related to UK institutions of government or undertaking
work of an advisory nature related to institutions of UK government.
THE CODE OF CONDUCT
1. In pursuance of the principles in this Code, political consultants are required to adhere to this Code in its entirety in order to ensure that the reputation of the Association or the profession of political consultancy is not brought into disrepute.
2. Political consultants must act with honesty towards clients and the institutions of government.
3. Political consultants must use reasonable endeavours to satisfy themselves of the truth and accuracy of all statements made or information provided to clients or by or on behalf of clients to institutions of government.
4. In making representations to the institutions of government, political consultants must be open in disclosing the identity of their clients and must not misrepresent their interests.
5. Political consultants must advise clients where their activities to deliberately and intentionally interact with the institutions of government may be illegal, unethical or contrary to professional practice, and to refuse to act for a client in pursuance of any such activity.
6. Political consultants must not make misleading, exaggerated or extravagant claims to clients about, or otherwise misrepresent, the nature or extent of their access to institutions of government or to political parties or to persons in those institutions.
7. Save for entertainment and token business mementoes, political consultants must not offer or give, or cause a client to offer or give, any financial or other incentive to any person in public life, whether elected, appointed or co-opted, that could be construed in any way as a bribe or solicitation of favour. Political consultants must not accept any financial or other incentive, from whatever source, that could be construed in any way as a bribe or solicitation of favour.
8. Political consultants must not:
· Employ any MP, MEP, sitting Peer or any member of the Scottish Parliament or the National Assembly of Wales or the Northern Ireland Assembly or the Greater London Assembly;
· Make any award or payment in money or in kind (including equity in a member firm) to any MP, MEP, sitting Peer or to any member of the Scottish Parliament or the National Assembly of Wales or the Northern Ireland Assembly or the Greater London Assembly, or to connected persons or persons acting on their account directly or through third parties.
9. Political consultants must ensure that they do not benefit unreasonably by actions of any third party that, if undertaken by the consultant, would be considered a breach of the Code.
10. Political consultants must comply with any statute, any resolution of an institution of government and with the adopted recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life in relation to payments to a political party in any part of the United Kingdom.
11. Political consultants who are also local authority councillors are prohibited from working on a client assignment of which the objective is to influence a decision of the local authority on which they serve. This restriction also applies to political consultants who are members of Regional Assemblies, Regional Development Agencies or other public bodies.
12. Political consultants must keep strictly separate from their duties and activities as political consultants any personal activity or involvement on behalf of a political party, including as an office holder or candidate for office.
13. Political consultants must abide by the rules and conventions for the obtaining, distribution and release of documents published by institutions of government
14. Political consultants must not hold any pass conferring entitlement to access to the Palace of Westminster, to the premises of the Scottish Parliament or the National Assembly of Wales or the Northern Ireland Assembly or the Greater London Assembly or any department or agency of government. The only exceptions are:
· Where the relevant institution is a client of the political consultant and requires the political consultant to hold a pass to enter their premises.
· Where the political consultant holds a pass as a spouse or civil partner of a member or as a former member of the relevant institution, in which case the pass must never be used whilst the consultant is acting in a professional capacity.
15. Political consultants must conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of any institution of government while within their precincts, and otherwise.
16. Political consultants must always abide by the internal rules on declaration and handling of interests laid down by any public body on which they serve.
17. Political consultants must not exploit public servants or abuse the facilities or institutions of central, regional or local government within the UK.
18. Members must disclose the names of all their clients and consultants in the APPC Register.
In all their activities and dealings, political consultants must be at
all times aware of the importance of their observance of the
principles and duties set out in this Code for the protection and
maintenance of their own reputation, the good name and
success of their business, and the standing of the profession as
a whole.
July 2010