Ex-Ministers who walk straight into 'revolving door' private sector jobs could face a tough new crackdown following a Daily Mirror exposé.
In a rare public appearance, sleaze watchdog Baroness Angela Browning warned of a “growing trend” of former Ministers strolling into fatcat jobs in the industries they used to oversee.
It follows a Daily Mirror investigation which revealed at least 25 of David Cameron's ex-Ministers have now landed highly-paid roles in the sectors they used to govern.
Lady Browning, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), told MPs today she wants tough new powers to prosecute ex-Ministers if they break anti-corruption rules.
And she called for a clampdown on 'informal lobbying' by former Ministers and Whitehall officials who try to influence ex-colleagues “at the bar of the golf club on a Sunday lunchtime”.
“We've noticed trends changing,” Lady Browning told the Commons public administration committee today.
“There has been a tendency for people to take up more consultancies.
“We've also noticed a trend that Ministers leaving office very often seek employment in sectors where they were previously responsible for policy.
“That is something we are not only looking at, but making changes.”
Currently ACOBA only has the power to advise ex-Ministers whether their new job is appropriate - but cannot police its own rulings or stop an appointment taking place.
Lady Browning said she has written to the Cabinet Office asking for new powers - but has yet to receive a reply.
But committee member Paul Flynn attacked her watchdog for waving through ex-Ministers' new jobs without question.
“The revolving door is still spinning out of control,” the Labour MP told her.
“The public are outraged at what they see as a potential source of corruption.”
He said ACOBA was “toothless” and a “pussycat without claws” as it merely an advisory body with no real power.
"What can you do to stop the perceived public view that this is a gravry train, a revolving door in which (Ministers) are using the knowledge they gained in office and their contacts for their private greed?" he asked.
"It's a very good question," Lady Browning replied. "It's something we are very concerned about."
But she added: "We are restrained by the rules we have to work with."
The Mirror revealed in January how more than two-dozen Ministers from the Coalition Government now earn huge salaries in the sectors they once oversaw.
They included former Energy Secretary Ed Davey, who now earns vast sums advising energy firms, ex-Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who went on to work for a pharmaceutical giant, and former Pensions Minister Steve Webb, who now works for Royal London.
While in power Mr Davey agreed the controversial £18billion deal with French energy giant EDF to build a new nuclear power station at Hinckley Point.
And after being booted out of office last year he took as job with lobbying firm MHP Communications – which advises EDF.
There is no suggestion he broke any rules.
But Mr Flynn warned of a “suspicion” that Mr Davey “might have been influenced” by his “future prospects” when agreeing the huge deal.
Lady Browning said ACOBA had told Mr Davey he could have nothing more to do with the Hinckley Point contract once he started his new jobs.
But she said she would like powers to prosecute offending Ministers were they to break the rules.
“We have said quite expressly he can have nothing to do with the Hinckley Point contract at all,” she said.
“If he doesn't (stick to the rules), that is a real problem because I do not have any powers to bring him to court.”
Asked if she would like the power to do so, she replied: “Yes I would.”
But the Tory peer also faced questions about her own suitability as chair of ACOBA.
The Mirror has previously revealed how she rakes in up to £800-a-day from consultancy work.
"You are judging people like yourself," Mr Flynn told her.
But Lady Browning shot back that she used to command an even larger salary before she joined Parliament in the 1990s.
And she said she worked only two days as a private consultant during 2015.
"People like myself haven't always been a Baroness, an 18-year Member of Parliament," she said.
"I've swept out operating theatres in my time."