Tory peer and PR chief who sold land to PM calls for controls on lobbying

Lord Chadlington said there was a clear difference between public relations and lobbying activity.

The Prime Minister faced controversy last month after it emerged he had paid £137,000 for a piece of land he bought at his constituency home from Lord Chadlington.

Mr Cameron is MP for Witney in West Oxfordshire.

Lord Chadlington, who runs PR firm Huntsworth, said: “Lobbying is not about public relations, that’s about the relationship between the client and the government and it’s a very small proportion of what happens in public relations.

“I, as a peer, anyway, have strict rules about what I can and cannot do.

“You mustn’t muddle up public relations and lobbying.

“Lobbying is about trying to change the law or change the position or perspective of a client amongst government.

“That needs to be regulated, of that I have absolutely no doubt at all – and nor do the legislators.

“Eighty per cent of MPs believe that lobbying is an important part of our lives, but they also believe – 70 per cent believe – we should regulate it and I believe it too.”

Asked about his relationship with the PM, Lord Chadlington said: “Huntsworth never gives any money to the Conservative Party and never has.

“I bought a house as part of my own place in the country.

“I had been trying to buy the house for the 20 years I had lived there and the person who owned it died and that’s all that happened.

“I’m president of the Prime Minister’s constituency. I therefore have a role in the constituency which would involve me helping in various ways locally, but that’s what I do.”

Mr Cameron, who has represented Witney since 2001, was re-elected last year with a majority of 22,740 votes.