Sir Ed Davey has returned to the energy beat as part of recently elected Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson’s first shadow cabinet reshuffle.
The Kingston MP was secretary of state for energy and climate change in the Conservative- Lib Dem coalition government until he lost his seat at the 2015 election before winning it back two years later.
While out of the House of Commons, he worked as chairman of Mongoose Energy and ran his own independent consultancy in the sector.
Responsibility for speaking on climate change stays with Cheltenham MP Wera Hobhouse, who held the energy brief under ex-leader Sir Vince Cable.
She retains climate change as part of a wider environmental and transport portfolio.
The Cheltenham MP took over responsibility for energy and climate change brief from former equalities minister Baroness Featherstone in a reshuffle carried out by Cable earlier this year.
In the reshuffle, the Lib Dems have also split up environment from food and rural affairs which will be looked after by Jane Dodds, the victor in last month’s Brecon and Radnorshire by-election.
Ex-party leader Tim Farron’s brief has expanded to incorporate speaking on housing issues.