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The MP for North Norfolk is taking over as minister for employment relations, consumer and postal affairs
Norman Lamb will be responsible for overseeing the review of employment law as well as implementing the privatisation of the Royal Mail. Photograph: Katie Collins/PA
Norman Lamb's previous life as an employment lawyer will stand him in good stead as he tackles his in-tray in his new role as minister for employment relations, consumer and postal affairs.
The MP for North Norfolk, who takes over the reins from his Lib Dem colleague Ed Davey, who has been promoted to energy secretary, will be responsible for overseeing the review of employment law and implementing the privatisation of the Royal Mail.
His new boss, Vince Cable, the business secretary, said it was a fitting appointment in light of the fact it was Lamb who pioneered the Lib Dems' policy to privatise Royal Mail and establish employee share ownership in the business while serving as the party's trade and industry spokesman.
Well liked across the party, the 54-year-old married father of two held a trinity of titles as chief parliamentary and political adviser and parliamentary private secretary to the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and assistant government whip, after failing to secure a ministerial portfolio when the coalition government was formed.
Lamb, who worked for a year as a researcher for the Labour MP Greville Janner in the early 1980s, was elected to parliament in 2001 at his third attempt, wresting the seat from the Conservatives. He went on to hold a succession of policy briefs for the Lib Dems in opposition: deputy spokesman for international development (2001-02), Treasury spokesman (2002-03), shadow trade and industry secretary (2005-06) and shadow health secretary (December 2006 until the general election). He served as parliamentary private secretary to the then party leader Charles Kennedy (2003-05), and did a stint as chief of staff for Kennedy's successor, Sir Menzies Campbell (March to December 2006). It was Davey who replaced him in this role when Lamb became shadow health secretary.
After the election the new Conservative health secretary, Andrew Lansley, blocked a role for Lamb in his department because of a falling out during the campaign over the financing of long-term care for the elderly.
Eleven months later, when the backlash against Lansley's planned reforms prompted a two-month listening exercise, Lamb drew on his expertise of health policy to demand four key changes to the health and social care bill, making clear he was prepared to resign as a whip if these were not met.
A keen Norwich City supporter, Lamb lists his other interests as travel and art. He is the son of the late Professor Hubert Lamb, who was the first director of the climatic research unit at the University of East Anglia.