The former MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Ed Davey has begun life outside of Government with new consultancy roles.

Still keen to be involved in work surrounding energy, Mr Davey, former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate, had to wait three months after he was ousted by Conservative James Berry in May’s general election before taking on any work.

He said: “As a former minister I wasn’t allowed to work at all for the first three months after the election.

“For two years after the election I have to get cabinet office approval for any work that I do.

“What I’ve done, I’m in the process of setting up a little consultancy of my own.

“Obviously it’s going to specialise in energy and climate change, and I’ve had to get clearance from the cabinet.”

Mr Davey will work on projects with Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), Macquarie Bank, and Mongoose Energy.

With HSF, he will not be involved in work relating to Hinkley Point nuclear power station, but will provide consultancy in the area of energy and climate change.

Macquarie Bank works with councils to install solar panels on housing association properties, so they get cheap or free energy.

Mr Davey said: “I’m helping the councils come to a decision, yay or nay, would they want to go with Macquarie.

“I’m acting as a consultant so they are short term, they don’t last very long.”

A return to frontline politics was a discussion for another day, but working within energy and climate was the aim for now, he added.

Mr Davey was the Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton for 18 years before he lost his seat along with former Cabinet colleague Vince Cable who served in the neighbouring Twickenham constituency.