Following her appearance before the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) on 10 September, Claire Bassett has been appointed as the new Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists. Her appointment is for the period of 4 years, commencing on 23 September 2025.
The Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, set up in 2015, is an independent, statutory office with responsibility for keeping and publishing that register. The Registrar has a duty to monitor compliance with the requirement to register and a power to undertake enforcement action in instances of non-compliance.
The Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists operates as a corporation sole, meaning all its legal and statutory powers and duties are held by the individual serving as the Registrar.
Claire Bassett has been selected for the role of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists following a rigorous recruitment process conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
The role, which is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, is subject to a pre-appointment scrutiny hearing by the PACAC.
Claire is an experienced Non-Executive Director and former chief executive with a strong background in regulation, governance, and public confidence.
Currently Chair of The Property Ombudsman and the Serious Fraud Office, she has held senior roles at the Electoral Commission, Parole Board, and Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Claire specialises in organisational change, stakeholder engagement, and compliance, bringing expertise from sectors including law, finance, and public oversight to ensure transparency and integrity.
