Chris Huhne takes role at US energy firm

Chris Huhne, the disgraced former Energy Secretary, has been appointed to a senior role in a US energy firm three months after leaving prison.

The former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister was hired as European chairman of Zilkha Biomass Energy (ZBE) last month. Mr Huhne’s new role was approved by the body that scrutinises jobs for former ministers.

The former MP for Eastleigh was released from jail in May having served 62 days of an eight-month sentence for perverting the course of justice after it emerged that his former wife had taking speeding penalty points on his behalf.

In an announcement on its website, ZBE said Mr Huhne would be working two days a week with a remit of “growing the business in the European Union”.

The company praised Mr Huhne as “one of the pioneers in calling for political action to deal with global warming”, making no reference of his criminal conviction and instead focusing on his high-flying career in politics and journalism.