Ex-military chiefs faced the threat of being barred from contact with ministers and defence officials after several were secretly filmed claiming to be able to exert influence on behalf of arms firms in a Sunday Times sting.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said that if an MoD inquiry found the senior figures had abused the access that came with their previous high rank then it could be "shut down" in future.

And the future of one senior figure as the figurehead of the Royal British Legion has come under review by the charity after he was alleged to have told undercover reporters his role could help bypass restrictions.