Government Affairs Group

The Government Affairs Group (GAG) is a UK industry association for communication and public affairs professionals. It is a sectoral group of the UK Chartered Institute of Public Relations, the representative body of the UK public relations industry. It is possible to join GAG without being a member of the CIPR.

GAG members are not only 'lobbyists' but includes communication professionals who have regular dealings with government in its widest sense.

This can be at local government level, at Westminster or Whitehall, at the institutions of the European Union, or in the devolved parliaments and assemblies: Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish Parliament or Welsh Assembly.

Members can be in-house, consultancy-based or freelance. Their dealings with government are not restricted to lobbying, but embrace all aspects of public affairs. They can include those who work for government agencies, who write about government or who provide services to government.

Members of the Government Affairs Group are expected to abide by a Code of Conduct, agreed by members at their 2003 AGM.