Oxford West and Abingdon MP Evan Harris is calling for a wide-ranging, independent investigation into a new row over the MMR vaccine.

He said the inquiry by the General Medical Council into alleged links between Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who highlighted doubts about the safety of the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and solicitors seeking to sue the manufacturers of the vaccine, would be "insufficient".

"The GMC can only look at the professional conduct of medically qualified people and not administrators, scientific researchers, publishers and those who staff research ethics committees," Dr Harris said.

The alleged link led to widescale public alarm.

It has now emeged through the medical journal The Lancet that the research doctor was being funded through solicitors seeking evidence to use against the MMR vaccine manufacturers.

Dr Harris added: "What The Lancet has found is a serious matter of non disclosure and conflict of interest."