IN a move which has been described as “simply wrong”, a lobbying firm has hired a sitting Tory peer as a consulting partner.

The appointment of Ian Duncan (Lord Duncan of Springbank) by Charlotte Street Partners, announced last week, has come under heavy fire from industry bodies.

Duncan, a former Scotland Office minister and Tory MEP for Scotland, now serves as Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.

The Association for Scottish Public Affairs (ASPA), a membership body for public affairs practitioners, has said the lobbying firm will be removed from their association in the wake of Duncan’s appointment.

ASPA convener Peter Duncan - who is himself a former Tory MP - said: “ASPA is absolutely clear – you can be a lobbyist or you can be a lawmaker, but you cannot be both.

“Our code of conduct makes the position completely clear, and as a result Charlotte Street Partners will no longer be entitled to membership of our Association. Their details are being removed from our website – we will not compromise on our high standards.”

Charlotte Street Partners - founded by SNP Growth Commission chair and former National columnist Andrew Wilson - have insisted it was “never the intention” for the Deputy Speaker to be involved in lobbying.

Instead, they say he will be focused on “analysis and advice relating to the European Union, and on environmental matters” and that the appointment was approved by the UK Government’s advisory committee on business appointments.

However, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PCRA), which represents PR professionals in more than 70 countries and aims to “champion - and enforce - professional standards in the UK and overseas”, said Charlotte Street Partners should “rethink this incredibly unwise appointment, which brings the House of Lords into disrepute”.

Liam Herbert, PRCA public affairs committee chairman, said: “It is simply wrong for lobbying firms to employ members of the House of Lords, and unthinkable that the Deputy Speaker of the Lords himself would think it appropriate to accept such a job.

“The PRCA Public Affairs Code is crystal clear – you cannot be a legislator and a lobbyist. You have to pick one or the other.”

Francis Ingham, PRCA director general, added: “While I am aware that Charlotte Street Partners has chosen not to be covered by any code of conduct, I would nonetheless urge them to do the ethical thing, and to rethink this incredibly unwise appointment, which brings the House of Lords into disrepute.”

Charlotte Street Partners appears on the Government’s Register of Consultant Lobbyists, but does not undertake to comply with a relevant code of conduct.

The firm operates out of London and Edinburgh and was launched in January 2014.

It was founded by Wilson, an economist and chair of the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Growth Commission, and former BAA (now Heathrow Airport Holdings) communications director Malcom Robertson.

Robertson is the son of George Robertson, the former UK secretary of defence and current Labour peer.

The Daily Business reported a spokesperson for Charlotte Street Partners said: “[Duncan]’s appointment has been approved by the UK Government’s advisory committee on business appointments (ACOBA).

“His work for us, as a strategic consultancy, will focus on analysis and advice relating to the European Union, and on environmental matters.

“This is fully compliant with ACOBA guidance, which makes clear that he is not permitted to undertake any lobbying, which was never the intention.”