It is impossible not to feel totally contaminated by the revelations in the Sunday Times. 

People out there will not distinguish between the Stephen Byres of this world and the rest of us.  Alas.

But for the record, I tabled this EDM (563) on 26 January last year, calling for a mandatory register of lobbyists.  It was signed by 166 MPs, but not by Byers, Hoon or Hewitt.

Register of Lobbyists

That this House notes with approval the recent Report of the Public Administration Select Committee on lobbying which calls for a mandatory register of lobbying activity provided for in statute, independently managed and enforced, and which would include information provided by both lobbyists and those being lobbied; and calls on the Government to bring forward the necessary legislation as a matter of urgency.