If lobbying has a bad name in Washington and Westminster, then fingers can also point at the gravy train enjoyed by Members of the European Parliament (MEP). MEPs are entitled to a generous attendance allowance of £142 a day and a useful £2337 a month to cover general expenses from paper clips to lunches.
So there is little surprise that lawyers have been using their public policy and lobbying departments to ‘win friends and influence people’. The argument is, of course, that like Washington and Westminster, you have to be close to the heart of any government so you can have some impact on the legislation that is coming out of the various institutions and advise clients accordingly.
