Despite the sour after-taste over Patrick Mercer’s actions, ‘lobbying’ has a perfectly legitimate – indeed essential – role in modern politics.

It is a central part of democracy for interest groups of one kind or another to seek to influence the outcome of events in Parliament – or in local government – in the way which they think best suits their interests or which they simply believe to be right.

Email has made that process even easier. This week I have received hundreds of them encouraging me to vote for a carbon cap in the discussions on the energy bill (to all of which I have replied explaining why I do not feel that is possible or necessary) and hundreds more enjoining me to stop the badger cull (to which I have responded that I am deeply concerned about sick badgers and about the 189,778 cows which have been needlessly killed in the UK thanks to badger-conducted TB, and that I feel therefore that a carefully controlled humane cull is one part of the right solution).

That pressure – together with think tanks, newspapers, charities, businesses and a whole host of other lobby groups – is a perfectly sensible part of persuading me and the other MPs to vote in a particular way. It is an essential part of democracy, and should not be confused with a few foolish people accepting money to advance arguments with which they may or may not agree.

I have also had a substantial amount of lobbying this week on the highly contentious issue of whether or not Malmesbury requires a third supermarket.

It is disappointing that some of that lobbying has become personalised, politicised and bitter, and that it risks splitting the town into factions. It is also disappointing that the decision should be being taken when the Neighbourhood Planning process is in its early stages, thereby pre-empting the referendum on it which will be held later this year.

I have written to the Secretary of State to ask him to ‘call the application in’ – in other words for it to be decided by him.

Both supermarket chains have spent a small fortune on lobbying to seek to secure their particular site. That is perfectly legitimate and only a ‘call-in’ will remove it from their lobbying efforts.

It may not be possible for everyone to agree but it is right that all opinions should be heard, that discussions should be conducted in an intelligent and civilised way, and that the interests of the largest group of people should win.