BURNLEY MP Kitty Ussher was one of several former Ministers targeted as part of the lobbygate scandal, it has been revealed.

But the MP, who is standing down before the General Election, has said that while a meeting was arranged with would-be lobbyists, nothing ever came of the contact.

Researchers from Channel 4's Dispatches programme approached several ex-Ministers regarding the prospect of lobbying on behalf of a fictitious company, Anderson Perry Associates.

Several allegations have been levied against three Labour figureheads, including Stephen Byers, once Transport Secretary, ex-health boss Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon, former Defence Minister, for their apparent willingness to ask parlimentary questions on behalf of the bogus US firm.

And Mrs Ussher, who served in the Treasury until she stepped down following the parliamentary expenses scandal, said she was also pinpointed as a target by the joint Sunday Times and Channel 4 sting.

Mrs Ussher said: "I was one of the ex-ministers targeted by the Channel 4 Dispatches sting.

"Around the middle of February, I received an e-mail from my office saying that a Claire Webster from Anderson Perry Associates had rung, regarding future employment opportunities.

"As I am stepping down from Parliament at the next election I checked the company's website and then rang her back.

"After a very brief chat, we agreed to meet. She then e-mailed me to arrange a meeting and by email we agreed to meet on Tuesday, March 16.

"This meeting was set on March 1 and there was no further contact until the day before the scheduled meeting when she e-mailed me again to cancel it, saying she had to go to the US to meet a client.

"At no point did any conversations of substance take place.

"I have always made it clear to any potential future employers that I will not engage in lobbying or advocacy work to government on behalf of commercial organisations.

"The only people I have ever used my political contacts for are my constituents."

Labour leaders have suspended Byers, Hewitt and Hoon from the parliamentary party and there have been calls by Opposition MPs for a full inquiry by the Commons standards commissoner Sir Christopher Kelly.

Yad Luthra, publicist for the Channel 4 show confirmed that Mrs Ussher was one of the MPs approached and that a meeting had been cancelled by the filmmakers. However, he would not say why the meeting was cancelled.