Lobbying Parliament & Political Independence Policy

1. Purpose and scope

Right First Time UK (RFTUK) advocates for fairness, accountability, transparency and public-service reform. This policy governs lobbying and public-interest engagement undertaken in RFTUK’s name with Parliament, Government, devolved institutions, councils, regulators and other decision-makers.

It applies, as relevant, to Directors, authorised Campaign Leaders, Campaigners, Volunteers, employees, contractors and other representatives. Personal democratic activity remains separate from RFTUK representation.

2. What counts as lobbying

Lobbying can include letters, emails, briefings, parliamentary visits, meetings, committee evidence, consultations, petitions, events and engagement with MPs, Peers, Ministers, councillors, officials and public bodies.

Lawful efforts to influence policy are not inherently improper. RFTUK requires accurate representation, transparency, suitable records and compliance with the rules governing each activity.

3. Organisational independence and party politics

RFTUK is independent and non-party political. It may advocate for or against laws, policies, proposals and administrative decisions, and may factually criticise or praise politicians or parties where relevant to the issue.

RFTUK will not use its official resources to promote a party or candidate, recruit party members, solicit party donations, run candidate advertising or instruct people how to vote. This is an organisational rule; it does not restrict individuals’ lawful personal political activity.

4. Participation and political backgrounds

People from all lawful political backgrounds may participate in RFTUK. Being an elected representative, party member, political employee, candidate or supporter does not itself exclude someone.

Where a political relationship could affect an RFTUK decision, appointment, campaign or the appearance of independence, it must be declared and managed. Participation must serve the authorised public-interest objective, not a participant’s outside party interest.

5. Personal lobbying versus official representation

Every person may contact their own MP, a member of the House of Lords or another elected representative in a personal capacity. Supporting or subscribing to RFTUK does not require organisational permission for private correspondence.

Only a Director or person with delegated authority may speak, commit funds, enter arrangements or attend as an official RFTUK representative within that authority. Public Members, Subscribers and Volunteers do not become authorised spokespeople merely by joining RFTUK.

6. Campaign Leader oversight and delegation

Campaign Leaders coordinate lobbying for authorised campaigns. Where Campaigners, Volunteers or Public Members take part as official representatives, a Campaign Leader or another approved lead should normally brief and oversee the activity.

The lead should define objectives, agreed requests, permitted statements, who may make commitments, safeguarding responsibilities and follow-up records. Serious media, legal, financial or publication commitments may require additional approval.

7. Briefings and lived-experience contributions

Before a significant meeting, participants should understand the subject, the evidence, the intended request, material risks, confidentiality boundaries and who is responsible for follow-up.

A person sharing lived experience must be free to give their own accurate account. No one should be pressured to adopt a script that alters their experience, give personal information unnecessarily or participate publicly against their wishes.

8. Evidence, accuracy and corrections

RFTUK lobbying must distinguish verified facts, official records, RFTUK analysis, estimates, opinion, testimony and untested allegations. Important figures and quotations should be checked with primary or reliable sources where practicable.

Representatives must not knowingly misstate RFTUK’s status, meeting outcomes, support for a petition or evidence. If a material mistake is identified, it should be corrected promptly and clearly under the Evidence, Research, Publication & Corrections Policy.

9. Parliament, MPs, Peers and public bodies

RFTUK may contact MPs, Peers, committees, Ministers, government departments, local authorities, mayors and regulators by lawful means, respecting security, meeting rules and staff instructions.

Correspondence to constituency MPs should not imply that the MP endorses RFTUK merely because correspondence was received or a meeting took place. Petitions should explain their precise request and should not claim that signatories endorsed unrelated positions.

10. Devolved nations and different lobbying regimes

Campaigns involving Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland must check the rules that apply to the relevant government, legislature or decision-maker. The UK consultant-lobbying regime does not automatically replace devolved lobbying and transparency requirements.

Before a substantial engagement, RFTUK should confirm the responsible authority, relevant rules and any necessary registration, disclosure or procedural requirements.

11. Consultant lobbying and paid third-party clients

The UK Register of Consultant Lobbyists covers defined communications and circumstances, including certain lobbying on behalf of a paying third-party client. Lobbying undertaken for RFTUK’s own purposes is not automatically consultant lobbying merely because RFTUK has paid personnel.

Before accepting payment specifically to lobby for a third party, RFTUK must assess the statutory definition, any registration obligation and the rules that apply to the proposed communications. It must not presume an exemption without checking the actual facts.

12. Election periods and the purpose test

Non-party political independence does not place campaigning automatically outside electoral law. Before and during a relevant regulated period, RFTUK must assess whether activity could reasonably be regarded as intended to influence how voters vote.

The Electoral Commission’s purpose-test factors include the call to action, tone, context and timing, and how a reasonable person would see the activity. RFTUK should record its assessment where spending or material is potentially regulated.

13. Election spending, registration and donations

Where campaigning is regulated, RFTUK must check current jurisdiction-specific registration thresholds, spending limits, notional expenditure, targeted spending, donation restrictions and reporting requirements before commitments are made.

The person responsible for finance should maintain proportionate campaign-spending records during relevant periods. This policy does not set a permanent monetary threshold because thresholds and circumstances can change.

14. Digital and printed imprints

Election-related digital and printed material may require an imprint identifying the promoter and other legally required information. Requirements depend on the type of material, the campaigner’s status and the election or referendum.

The publishing lead should check current Electoral Commission imprint guidance before releasing paid adverts, election-related online content or printed campaigning materials. Not every issue-focused post requires an imprint, but the decision must be considered.

15. Candidates, conferences and joint campaigning

RFTUK may meet candidates, attend conferences, hold policy discussions and collaborate with lawful groups for genuine public-interest purposes without treating attendance as an endorsement.

Candidate questionnaires and published responses should fairly explain whom RFTUK approached and who replied. Joint activity should document responsibilities for expenditure, data, publications, branding, safeguarding and decisions; in election periods, joint spending must be assessed under applicable law.

16. No purchased influence, conflicts or improper benefits

No donor, sponsor, official, party, supplier or participant can purchase a particular RFTUK conclusion, secret access to information, complaint outcome or official statement. Gifts, hospitality, discounts or favours intended to secure improper access or treatment are prohibited.

Political, financial, family, employment and organisational conflicts must be declared and managed under the Conflict of Interest and Gifts, Hospitality & Anti-Bribery policies. Ordinary lawful hospitality still requires proportionate scrutiny.

17. Volunteers, accessibility and reasonable adjustments

Official lobbying by Volunteers remains genuinely voluntary; reasonable authorised expenses may be reimbursed. Participation must not depend unfairly on an ability to self-fund necessary access or travel.

RFTUK should provide appropriate written briefings, extra processing time, accessible formats, remote attendance or communication support where required and reasonable. No participant must speak in public when an appropriate alternative is available.

18. Safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection

The dignity and safety of children, adults at risk and people giving testimony take priority over publicity. Private family-court material, medical information and safeguarding records must not be disclosed to politicians, officials, journalists or external AI systems without a lawful, necessary and proportionate basis.

Before sharing an individual case, RFTUK should establish what authority exists, minimise third-party information and respect reporting restrictions. A person’s request for assistance does not automatically authorise unrestricted sharing.

19. Meetings, notes, transparency and media claims

RFTUK should keep proportionate records of significant official lobbying, including dates, participants, objectives, materials supplied, key requests, agreed follow-up, material conflicts and relevant expenditure.

Publication of lobbying records or photographs must respect privacy, confidentiality and safety. A meeting or photograph must not be described as an endorsement unless the representative has actually endorsed the position and the description is accurate.

20. AI and communications tools

Approved digital and AI tools may assist with accessible drafts and information organisation, but outputs require human checks for accuracy and confidentiality. The terms of relevant technology providers must be respected.

RFTUK must not present AI-generated words, images or quotations as authentic political testimony, official decisions or verified source material. Private records and credentials must not be uploaded without appropriate assessment and authorisation.

21. PCS, services and organisational roles

Parent Contribution Service (PCS) is operated by Right First Time UK Ltd, not a separate legal entity. PCS records and tools do not grant RFTUK CMS, DWP or court powers, and PCS does not itself receive, hold or transfer parent-to-parent contributions under the current service model.

PCS information may inform policy research only after suitable review and anonymisation where necessary. Private parent accounts or records must not be used for party-political activity or disclosed to political representatives merely because the information could assist a campaign.

RFTUK’s initial model uses voluntary, unpaid leadership and participant roles, with genuine authorised expenses reimbursable. Later paid roles require lawful authorisation, financial sustainability and conflict safeguards.

22. Complaints, breaches and speaking up

Concerns about unauthorised lobbying, misuse of RFTUK resources, political conflicts, inaccurate representations or possible electoral non-compliance can be raised through the public complaints route. Complaints should be considered fairly and, where practicable, by someone sufficiently independent of the issue.

RFTUK may correct claims, restrict representation, withdraw approval, review access or refer suspected unlawful conduct as appropriate. People raising genuine concerns in good faith should not face retaliation; an allegation is not treated as proven merely because it was reported.

23. Review and accountability

This policy is reviewed at least annually and earlier when electoral rules, consultant-lobbying guidance, RFTUK governance or material campaigning risks change. Election-specific requirements should also be checked at the outset of each relevant campaign period.

Directors retain governance responsibility. Delegation to Campaign Leaders, contractors or Volunteers does not remove statutory duties. RFTUK should keep the Articles of Association, Governance & Transparency and relevant operational policies aligned.