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In the wake of this week's controversial allegations about Bell Pottinger's lobbying activities, the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) has withdrawn from the UK Public Affairs Council (UKPAC), and formally endorsed the Government's decision to introduce a statutory register of public affairs practitioners.

UKPAC was founded by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), the PRCA and the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC) in 2010, and has worked since then to create a voluntary register. But the PRCA says it has 'become increasingly disillusioned over the past year with UKPAC's failure to make that register complete and accurate'.

The PRCA's withdrawl from the project comes after months of criticism of UKPAC's website, which has been dogged by technical difficulties. 

The CIPR today responded criticising the PRCA's move. CIPR chief executive Jane Wilson said: 'This is a disappointing move by the PRCA and as far we know comes without any consultation with the board of UKPAC or the CIPR or APPC as joint founding bodies... we think the decision to quit UKPAC is a potentially counterproductive move, especially in the current circumstances.

'The CIPR believes industry unity is the key to ensuring that the current negative impressions of lobbying in the media do not lead to over-regulation of our industry.

'As a statutory register is looking increasingly likely, it has to be an open register that has no 'good cause' exemptions and covers everyone who seeks to influence public policy, regardless of their motivation, on an organised basis. Further delay extends the current period in which ethical, professional lobbyists who operate to the highest of standards of transparency and disclosure risk being tarred with the same brush as unprofessional elements who bring the industry into disrepute.'

UKPAC has repeatedly attracted criticism from some high-profile quarters of the lobbying industry. Peter Bingle, chairman of Bell Pottinger Public Affairs, who long campaigned against publishing clients' information, said last month that: 'UKPAC is a disaster and should be abolished. Its launch was a fiasco and it has been downhill ever since.'

The PRCA is now saying that a statutory register should be held by an independent body, and should sit alongside the existing model of self-regulation.

Sally Costerton, PRCA chairman, commented: 'For the past 18 months, we have worked hard alongside our partners within UKPAC to find the best route forward for the public affairs industry. It is with regret that we have reluctantly concluded that UKPAC will not be able to deliver the statutory register that the Government has decided to introduce. Thanks to repeated delays and inaccuracies in its work, UKPAC simply lacks the credibility and competence to meet the Government's objectives.'

She added: 'We have therefore concluded that the register is best held by an independent body, and should include all those who work in public affairs - not just those employed in multi-client consultancies.

'An independently-held register will support the self-regulatory procedures that are already established in our industry - the Professional Charter and Public Affairs Code of Conduct that our members abide by, and the equivalent Codes operated by other professional bodies.

'We would now urge the Government to deliver such a register without further delay.'

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