EXCLUSIVE access to Cabinet ministers and other senior Labour politicans is being offered for thousands of pounds at next week’s party conference.

The Times has seen an e-mail from a leading lobbyist offering clients a package of dinners and meetings with influential government figures, including the Lord Chancellor.

In addition, Labour is offering companies and special interest groups the opportunity “to engage first hand” with ministers and policy advisers who work in areas relevant to their business for £1,500 a head.

Labour’s relationship with big business is at a critical juncture, with the party trying to plug its £29 million debt after the investigation into cash-for-peerages allegations.

Yesterday Hazel Blears, the party chairman, told The Times that the party should get more public money. This week a second party donor, Sir Christopher Evans, was arrested and the party said that it was cutting one in five jobs.

Last night the Committee on Standards in Public Life admitted that it was not a subject it had so far looked at.

Bell Pottinger Public Affairs (BPPA), set up by Tory stalwart Lord Bell, is offering clients dinner and drinks with two Cabinet members, including the Lord Chancellor, two ministers of state and three senior MPs.

Peter Bingle, the managing director, sent an e-mail inviting their clients, who include Marconi, the defence contractor, and Asda, to sign up to its “best ever conference programme”.

Public affairs firms would typically charge up to £5,000 for such a package, but Mr Bingle said that every client paid a different amount depending on what services they used.

The e-mail promises dinners with Stephen Timms, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and leading Brownite, on Monday, and Richard Caborn, the Minister of Sport, on Wednesday.

It also promises two meetings of particular interest to to BPPA’s health-related clients, who include BUPA. These are with Caroline Flint, the Public Health Minister, recently charged with improving the nation’s fitness, and Kevin Barron, the Labour chairman of the Commons Health Select Committee.

The most high-profile event is on Tuesday when BPPA clients are invited to meet Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor, for drinks. About six to eight people attend every dinner, while 100 people come to the parties.

Last night BPPA came under fire from the lobbying industry itself. Gill Morris, chairwoman of the Association of Professional Political Consultants, a voluntary organisation that oversees lobbying, said she was concerned that the package was being offered like this. “What worries me most is that parliamentarians and ministers do this. In terms of honesty, integrity and transparency it's not at all helpful.” BPPA is not a member of the association.

Hundreds of leading business people have signed up this year for Labour’s own “corporate day”, held on Tuesday to coincide with the Prime Minister’s speech. This gives them breakfast and lunch with ministers, and the chance to quiz them during policy seminars.

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