A senior member of the Association for Scottish Public Affairs said she will demand the company's immediate suspension.

Julia Clarke, chief executive of a parliamentary affairs consultancy, said she is very concerned at the "disturbing allegations".

The Observer's undercover film of Beattie Media officials

She added: "The association was expressly set up to develop and deliver high standards of ethics for the public affairs industry in Scotland.

"ASPA and its members fully support the all-party objectives of openness, accountability and transparency in Scotland's Parliament.

"Therefore as a matter of urgency, I shall be calling for the suspension of Beattie Media as soon as possible from the ASPA pending completion of full inquiries into these allegations."

The suspension call follows allegations in the Observer newspaper that Beattie Media, Scotland's largest PR firm, touted for business by offering privileged access to ministers - including Finance Minister Jack McConnell.

Jack McConnell used to work for Beattie Media

The string of allegations include Beattie Media executives telling an undercover reporter, posing as a businessman, that they had access to ministers, most notably Mr McConnell who used to work for a company part owned by Beattie Media.

The company has denied the story and has apologised for any embarrassment which has been caused to Mr McConnell.

It has also taken steps to suspend its parliamentary lobbying division.

As the story broke on Sunday morning, a statement announcing a probe into the allegations was issued on behalf of First Minister Donald Dewar.

Mr McConnell issued a statement before the paper's publication rubbishing the charges.