BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Explained in plain English
Organisations offer hospitality to build relationships and gain influence. By inviting MPs to events, they hope to foster goodwill and create opportunities for informal discussions about their interests. This can be a subtle way to lobby, ensuring their perspectives are heard by decision makers, as highlighted by the concerns in the story.
Stories that explain this
MPs accepted nearly £400,000 in free hospitality this year, report findsQuestions this opens up
Is it always lobbying? What is 'influence'? Who pays for it?