Only a fool would ever write off someone as politically resilient and formidable as Chris Huhne which is why no one dared to call it either way in Westminster over whether he would be charged.

Westminster and media were in a frenzy awaiting the news and were amazed that for the first time there was no leak. Many Lib Dems were angry about the way in which the DPP organised a press conference on the announcement and sought to essentially end a man’s career in the public eye.

When the 10am announcement came it was clear that Chris Huhne could not remain as Energy Secretary whilst working to clear his name in the courts and decided to resign. 

When the allegations broke last year, Ed Davey was already being considered as the best choice for replacement if Chris Huhne was forced to step down.

Ed Davey is extremely well liked in the Party and when in opposition was seen as a Lib Dem ‘big hitter’. He has strong support in the Deputy Prime Minister’s office – Jonny Oates the DPM’s Chief of Staff was Davey’s election agent in 1997; Olly Grender the DPM’s senior press adviser worked together as party staffers in the 90s; and Polly Mackenzie the DPM’s chief strategist worked as Davey’s senior DCLG adviser before eventually moving to home affairs to work for Nick Clegg. 

The Prime Minister along with many Conservative ministers and advisers in the Coalition Government have praised Davey privately for achievements in BIS that were controversial like the Royal Mail sell off.

Whilst only a fool would ever underestimate Chris Huhne, the same could be said of Ed Davey. In 1997 he was elected with a majority of only 56 but took it to over 15,000 in 2001, winning swathes of votes off the Tories and squeezing the Labour vote to just single digits.

His ability to combine political strategy and policy ‘wonkiness’ with a personable and likeable character make him potentially a formidable force. However, he will need to address a number of challenges when he sits down at his new desk in DECC such as overseeing the introduction of the Green Deal and Green Investment Bank, confirming the package of Electricity Market Reforms, and leading climate change negotiations in Qatar at the end of the year.