Academics question impact of ‘unclear’ anti-lobbying clause

Researchers have called for clarification of how the government’s plan to introduce an anti-lobbying clause into grant agreements will affect research.

The anti-lobbying clause, due to come into force on 1 May, was announced by the Cabinet Office on 6 February. The Cabinet Office said that the clause would be inserted into all new and renewed contracts to ensure that taxpayers’ money was “spent on improving people’s lives and good causes” rather than lobbying for new regulation or more government funding.

The news sparked concern among researchers, who say that it is not clear how the clause would affect research.