THE Liam Fox affair seems certain to spark calls for a wider investigation into the activities of political lobbyists and the way they operate.

Lobby groups have existed for hundreds of years. The term lobbying first appeared in print as far back as 1820 and long before that people and groups have sought to influence decisions made by parliamentarians.

Lobbying can be a good thing. It can help the minority get a fair hearing.

But the Liam Fox saga has lifted the lid on another kind of lobbyist – the professional lobbyist whose business is trying to influence political thinking on behalf of wealthy clients.

We like to think of ourselves as above so-called crony capitalism.

Cronyism is an endemic problem in corrupt regimes and a blight on Third World economies. Crony capitalism develops when political favouritism extends into the business world. The often opaque world of professional lobbyists, funded by rich and powerful businessmen, makes it impossible to know for sure that money cannot buy influence.

No doubt many of these lobbyists are operating with the best of intentions, but the success of a democracy depends on transparency – that one man’s vote is as important as the next, regardless of circumstances.

Downing Street said last night that the Prime Minister will accept all the Cabinet Secretary’s recommendations for strengthening procedures across Government. A register of lobbyists and the contacts they have with his ministers should be top of the agenda.