CIPR sets out manifesto for 2015 election
A manifesto launched by the CIPR at the Institute of Directors in London sets out issues that the Institute believes should be on the policy agenda of the incoming UK government. It’s an important piece of work ahead of the May 2015 election that explores seven critical concerns related to organisational communication and public relations.
The forward looking manifesto highlights the importance of the Internet for engagement between organisations and their publics, governance, lobbying, skills and gender pay.
“Most of these issues are not ones for which a government can simply legislate, and most of them do not have a simple, straightforward solution. Rather, they require an open and informed public conversation which will allow us to arrive at a sustainable set of policies and maintain the UK’s world lead in what are critically important areas,” said Sarah Pinch, President, CIPR.
The launch coincided with the tenth anniversary celebration of the CIPR's Royal Charter.
A summary of each of issues is outlined below. You can download the full document via Slideshare or request a hard copy via the CIPR.
#1 Corporate governance
Building relationships is key to the creation of sustainable value in business. In order to improve business decision making and trust in business, government should identify measures which will lead corporate culture in the UK to refocus on the value of relationships and move towards integrated reporting as a means of communicating the way that business organisations create value.
#2 Data protection
The next UK Government needs to think beyond the scope of current EU Data Protection Law and lead a national conversation about how we can develop a coherent and satisfactory framework for responding to emerging technology. We need to maintain our forward position in the adoption of new technology while setting a world standard in terms of transparency and accountability in personal data use. A Royal Commission is needed to recommend a new range of protections and accountabilities and ensure that society can fully benefit from the data revolution.
#3 Lobbying
Government should support the development of high professional standards and accountability in lobbying. It should work with the profession to build stronger institutions that can regulate the ethical conduct of lobbyists, supporting and maintaining the voluntary codes of conduct. It should ensure the legislation that introduced a statutory register of consultant lobbyists genuinely provides the public with more information about how policies and laws are shaped.
#4 Independent practitioners and future skills
The CIPR asks the next UK Government to allow tax deductibility for any kind of training undertaken by the self-employed and allow tax deductibility for any kind of training for small businesses (as defined in the Companies Act 2006).
#5 Gender pay gap
The UK Government should continue to support the 'Think, Act, Report' initiative, and other steps around flexible work and returning to work. However, government also should tackle gender pay inequality more directly. Firstly through conducting comprehensive research into the underlying causes, looking for positive measures delivered in other countries, and secondly, by strengthening the existing law on equal pay and ensuring that it is universally applied.
#6 Internet governance
We urge the UK Government to continue to involve itself in questions of internet governance and ask that it seeks to provide effective leadership, particularly at the tenth annual meeting of the UN’s Internet Governance Forum to be held 10 to 13 November 2015 in Brazil. It should build support for the multi-stakeholder approach internationally and resist calls for governments to take the lead in governing the internet. We urge the government to do more to build international partnerships that will effectively combat internet crime.
#7 Broadband
Government must invest in critical digital infrastructure to support the UK’s future communities and economy. The government’s aim to give access to 24 Mbps broadband speeds to 95 per cent of users by 2017 is unambitious. Their investment of £1bn by 2017 is not enough.
