A motion, put forward by Reform UK’s Llŷr Powell, was supported across the party groups in the Senedd on Wednesday June 17.
Opening the debate, Reform’s Francesca O’Brien described it as a “straightforward principle” and said: “The people of Wales have a right to know who is trying to influence the laws and decisions made in their name, and that right is currently not being met.
“Every healthy democracy needs transparency, and for too long this institution has operated under a veil of secrecy on one of the most consequential relationships in politics: the relationship between decision makers and those who seek to influence them.”
Ms O’Brien clarified that lobbying itself is not the problem, noting that charities often lobby for vulnerable people and small businesses lobby for fairer regulations.
She said: “None of that in itself is sinister, and nothing in this motion seeks to discourage it, restrict it or obstruct ordinary people who simply want to make their voices heard to those that represent them.
“What this motion is about is the difference between lobbying that happens in the open and the influence that happens in the shadows, and ensuring that the public can always tell the difference.”
Ms O’Brien acknowledged that Wales is arguably the odd one out in the UK with Scotland and Northern Ireland both having statutory registers, and Westminster having one covering consultant lobbyists.
The motion was agreed without amendment with 77 in favour, no abstentions, and eight against.
