During my first term as an MEP, I was working on a complex piece of environmental legislation - I think it was the use of phthalates as plasticisers in polythene products (pardon the alliteration). I remember a journalist asking me about an amendment I'd tabled, which included a rather arcane chemical formula. "How did you do that?", he asked. "Have you got a degree in chemistry?". No, said I, I have a degree in mathematics, but I worked with an industry representative to draft the amendment. His face was a picture. "You mean, a lobbyist?". The shock was palpable. It was as if I'd said I worked with a poltergeist. Then shock gave way to grudging respect. "Well, at least you're honest enough to admit it".
As a parliamentarian, I frequently deal with complex and technical issues on which I need to be briefed. It is absolutely a key part of my job to listen to the groups who will be most affected by proposed legislation. That may be industry lobbyists. It may be trade unions, or employers' groups like the CBI, the FTA, the EEF (Engineering Employers) or the FSB. It may be other interest groups, like charities, or the NFU, or animal welfare groups (I've just been working with World Horse Welfare on transportation issues, for example), even religious groups. Whoever it is, it's my job to listen, and to engage with them.
That does not necessarily mean, of course, agreeing with them. I may ask challenging questions. I frequently hear from different groups on opposite sides of a question - like the car industry versus environmental groups. Indeed, when two normally opposing sides agree with each other, it can be disconcerting. I remember when I had both industry and animal rights groups lobbying against the EU Chemicals Directive (REACH) - industry because of costs and massive bureaucracy, animal rights people because it would have involved a huge increase in animal testing.
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