Cash for questions: Cameron's prediction on lobbying scandal comes true The Prime Minister, who is on holiday in Ibiza, was yesterday said to be aware of developments surrounding Patrick Mercer as he resigned from the Conservative parliamentary party. Although Mr Mercer's downfall was initially likely to have been privately welcomed by those close to Mr Cameron, as the MP was a strident critic of the Prime Minister, the long-lasting damage from the affair will further undermine the Conservatives. In opposition, Mr Cameron took a strong stance against lobbying and the Coalition has pledged to introduce a new register and statutory code of conduct. However, the Prime Minister is thought to have cooled on the proposal, leading to mounting frustration among senior Liberal Democrats. Over the past three years, the Prime Minister has suffered a series of lobbying scandals involving senior Conservative MPs and ministers. In October 2011, Liam Fox, then defence secretary, was forced to stand down after more than a week of revelations about his relationship with his best man and aide, Adam Werritty. Mr Werritty joined Dr Fox on more than 20 overseas trips, apparently bankrolled by numerous different people and companies. Two months later executives at lobbyists Bell Pottinger were secretly filmed telling journalists that they had access to, or relationships with, senior politicians, including the Prime Minister. A few months later in March 2012, Mr Cameron found himself engulfed in another lobbying scandal, this time involving party political donations. Peter Cruddas, the Tories" second largest donor, apparently told undercover reporters posing as businessmen that he could get access to the Prime Minister for a fee of £25,000, although Mr Cruddas denies wrongdoing. Then, last year, Mr Cameron was again under fire after hiring Lynton Crosby, who has links with oil, tobacco and drinks firms, as Conservative Party strategist.