Tamasin Cave - Lobbying and the distortion of our democracy

https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/0/4/a/600_462628746.jpeg

Tamasin will talk about the UK’s £2bn lobbying industry and the tactics they use to bend government to their will: how lobbyists build relationships with government; their manipulation of the media; the way that they use academics, scientists, think-tanks, front groups and others to spread their messages; and their attacks on opposition groups. She will talk about how the private healthcare industry has lobbied to open up the NHS to more private operators – and how schools are going the same way; how energy companies have hired a small army of lobbyists to persuade government and local communities to support fracking; how the ‘revolving door’ works to support the arms industry; and more.

Tamasin is a writer and campaigner with Spinwatch, which investigates corporate PR and lobbying. She is co-author of A Quiet Word: Lobbying, Crony Capitalism and Broken Politics in Britain, which shines a light into one of the darkest and least-understood corners of our political culture: the UK’s £2 billion commercial lobbying industry.

http://www.spinwatch.org

Twitter - @Spinwatch

Please note that seats are limited to first come first served and entry is not guaranteed by accepting this Meetup. Whilst our events are free and non-ticketed we do ask for donations. Your support helps us continue to bring you these events and is most welcome