Leadership, Mr Cameron, is about action not words

We’ve all been in those meetings where someone enthusiastically volunteers for tasks and then never follows through. You send a few polite e-mails, but still nothing. That’s how the British Government is acting now about regulation of extractive industries. And while it’s an infuriating approach when you’re trying to get something done in the office, it’s potentially devastating when those promises are related to changes that could dramatically improve the quality of life for some of the poorest people in the world.

Last October, David Cameron personally committed to the implementing new European rules on reporting by oil, gas and mineral companies. We’re all aware of the abuses these companies have perpetrated in the past. For example, Amnesty International argue that often oil, gas and mining industry operations go hand in hand with allegations of human rights abuses.                                                                

The new regulations would bring greater transparency to prevent such abuses of power happening in the future. Known in Euro-speak as the EU Accounting and Transparency Directives, new rules would require all companies listed on EU regulated markets to publish the amount of money they pay to the governments of countries where they extract natural resources. This would mean, amongst other things, that the huge wealth of some developing countries would finally starting benefitting their populations.

Under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international transparency initiative, publishing such payments is a tool already used in many countries with marked success. The new European rules supplement these by requiring EU-listed companies active in resource rich countries but that aren’t part of the EITI to publish their information regardless. Similar regulations have already been passed in the US. However progress there is stalling due to a lawsuit launched by the companies involved who are refusing to provide the information required.

If we’re not careful, a similar delay will happen in the UK. Cameron publicly committed to implementing the rules this year, but as yet, almost halfway through 2014, progress has been slow.

The UK will be embarrassed on the global stage if it fails to act having set itself up as a world leader on this issue. Because what’s more annoying than the colleague who doesn’t deliver? The one who makes a fanfare about their skills, commitment and talent before failing to follow through.

We were right to lead on this important issue during last year’s G8, but leadership is about action not words. Has the government really lived up to its promise of championing transparency as a new global standard and bringing other G20 nations on board? Or is it being co-opted by the companies that seem to have something to hide?

Making commitments isn’t the hard part, for all his talk, Cameron now just needs to get it done.

Anas Sarwar is the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party . He is also Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption.