I have just watched aghast a video clip on the Sunday Times website in which former Cabinet Minister, Stephen Byres, talks silkily about selling his services for between £3,000 - £5,000 a day to influence public policy. It is truly shocking!

This makes the case for the immediate introduction of a mandatory register of lobbyists, set up by statute and policed by an independent body. No ifs or buts.

I wrote about lobbing in this blog exactly a week ago.

The full story is to be broadcast on Channel 4 Despatches tomorrow night at 8pm.