MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Edward Davey, has become secretary of state for energy and climate change.
Mr Davey, who has represented Surbiton since 1997, was promoted into cabinet office on Friday (3 February) after Chris Huhne MP resigned.
Mr Huhne stepped down from the post on hearing he would be charged with perverting the course of justice.
The charges relate to claims Huhne’s then-wife, Vicky Pryce, accepted penalty points on his behalf following a 2003 speeding offence.
Mr Huhne maintains his innocence.
In a statement issued through the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Mr Davey said:
“I’m particularly conscious of the impact on households across the country of high energy bills.
“I’m determined to work to follow on Chris’s priorities, the Coalition’s priorities, and to make them my priorities.
“I want us to have a green economy, with the green jobs and investment we need to help grow our economy.”
Mr Davey must stick to a green agenda if he wishes to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps.
In a speech last year, Mr Huhne argued the UK should “get off the oil hook” and lower reliance on carbon products.
The DECC noted Mr Davey had, under the Ministerial Code, acknowledged his brother’s employment as a partner of law firm Herbert Smith LLP to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
Henry Davey specialises in the international energy industry and has worked on projects such as EDF’s trading contracts during the 2009 acquisition of British Energy, which then operated the UK’s eight nuclear plants.
Previous to his new appointment, the Liberal Democrat was a minister for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
In 2010, as minister for postal affairs, Mr Davey oversaw the £1.34 billion government funding commitment to the Post Office, enabling the service to modernise and prevent its private sale.
Mr Davey has lived in Surbiton since 1995 and became MP for the area in 1997.
