Huhne’s partner involved in lobbying row

Another lobbying scandal has hit the coalition. The Times is reporting that Carina Trimingham, Chris Huhne’s partner, boasted of having ‘excellent contacts… from Cabinet members to more junior ministers’ to a lobbying firm she was seeking work with. She also allegedly urged this firm to ‘make use of my skills and contacts.’

Trimingham has told the paper that she will not take on any role that involves energy and climate change so there will be no conflict of interest. She also points out that having worked in politics for more than a decade Huhne is not her only contact. A spokesman for the Energy and Climate Change Secretary says that Trimingham has offered assurances that she won’t work in any area under his department.

But it is hard to escape a feeling that this whole culture of lobbying is adding to public disquiet about politics.