Two more 'in lobbying scandal'

Two more ex-Labour ministers were drawn into the lobbying scandal last night, after claims they had been secretly recorded offering to exploit government contacts to help business clients – for fees of up to £2,500 a day.

The Sunday Times claimed the former armed forces minister, Adam Ingram, told undercover investigators he knew several out-of-work ministers who could be used to exploit their government contacts.

And Richard Caborn, the former sports minister, allegedly said he was in line for a peerage, boosting his chances of extracting valuable information at Westminster. The two MPs deny agreeing to work for the bogus company at the heart of the "sting" operation.

Last week, Geoff Hoon, Stephen Byers and Patricia Hewitt were suspended from the Labour Party over lobbying allegations.