For Huhne the bell tolls (or 'Who is Ed Davey?')

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Chris Huhne driving past in his car. Whoops, sorry, my mistake, I think it was his wife. Or was I right the first time?

This photo opportunity doesn't seem like such a good idea now...Image by DECCgovuk via Flickr

The path of a political figurehead never runs smooth, especially when one is charged with perverting the course of justice. Yes, I’m referring to the news that Chris Huhne the Liberal Democrat MP and (ex) Energy Secretary has resigned his cabinet post. The well-publicised reason for his resignation is the allegation that in 2003 he persuaded his then wife to take three points on her driving license for a speeding offence.

Now as interesting as the charges against Mr Huhne are, that is not the main purpose of this blog post. We are, after all, an energy broker, so the real issue is the credentials and background of the new Energy Secretary, Ed Davey.

So who is Ed Davey?

Edward Jonathan Davey has a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford and has been in parliament since 1997, when he defeated the Tory MP Richard Tracey in the constituency of Surbiton. Under the coalition, Davey was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) with responsibility for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs.

Davey has a reputation for falling on the green side of the spectrum; he campaigned on environmental issue at university and his voting record shows support for new laws to tackle climate change. 

We will watch developments over the next few months with interest to see if there is a particular change in energy policy as result of the change in personnel, but the reality is that both Huhne and Davey are Lib Dems through and through and very little is likely change.