Phoenix Community Capital case shines light on UK’s lobbying problem

The recent collapse of FTX in the US has increased calls for the industry to be regulated. Photograph: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

For more than a decade, those worried about the reputation of parliament have warned that all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) can be a problem.

Their supporters say they are a place for like-minded parliamentarians to discuss topics of special interest. But despite their unofficial nature, and with no formal role in the legislative process, APPGs can be a magnet for those who want to get close to MPs and peers – or to pretend that they are for the sake of polishing their reputations.