Under Thomas Docherty's plan, lobbyists working for public affairs companies or in-house at businesses and charities would have to sign a public register.

The law would also ban most lobbyists from holding passes allowing access to the Houses of Parliament, according to the Dunfermline and West Fife MP.

Setting out his Commercial Lobbyists (Registration and Code of Conduct) Bill in the Commons, Mr Docherty said a voluntary scheme had failed and it was time to have a compulsory register.

He said: "Lobbying is a healthy part of our democracy. I believe it is every citizen's right either to do it themselves or – if they feel, for whatever reason, that they don't particularly have the time or the skills – to employ somebody else either individually or collectively to carry out that work for them.

"That is not to say that those who are employed, those who make financial gain out of lobbying, should be allowed to do so unchecked, without any rules whatsoever."

Lobbyists would not be allowed to hold passes granting access to Parliament "other than as a spouse or civil partner of a member or former member of either House of Parliament".

Meanwhile, in another piece of legislation proposed by the same MP, people who attack military personnel because they are in the armed forces should face the same tougher sentences they would receive if they assaulted someone because they were disabled or gay.