The Liberal Democrats memorably went from 57 seats in parliament to just eight at the general election. So what have those who lost their seats been up to since last May?

Simon Hughes – Open University

Former MP Simon Hughes. Photograph: Rob Stothard/Getty Images

On Monday, it was announced that longtime Bermondsey MP Simon Hughes had taken a job as head of public affairs at the Open University. The former Lib Dem chairman has taken the role on maternity cover for a year.

Danny Alexander – Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank

Danny Alexander, former chief secretary to the Treasury, standing next to George Osborne, the chancellor. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Danny Alexander had a close working relationship with George Osborne in his role as chief secretary to the Treasury. When the Chinese spearheaded the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the chancellor decided to put his former colleague forward as Britain’s representative. Alexander was appointed vice-president, despite some in Beijing reportedly being “unimpressed” with the decision to pick a former politician instead of an experienced economist.

Ed Davey – clean energy projects

Ed Davey leaving the final coalition government cabinet meeting in March last year. Photograph: Derek Peters/Demotix/Corbis

The former energy and climate change secretary is now advising law firm Herbert Smith and Macquarie Bank on their renewable energy projects. He has clarified that he will not help them with the Swansea Bay tidal project or Hinkley Point, both of which he was involved in as part of his ministerial role. Davey also chairs Bristol-based community energy investment firm Mongoose Energy.



Sir Bob Russell – tour guide

The BBC reported last September that, after 18 years as Colchester MP, Russell was offering guided tours of the constituency for £5 a time. He wants to put the money towards a statue of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star writer Jane Taylor, who lived in the town.

Lynne Featherstone – peer



Lynne Featherstone speaks at the Liberal Democrat conference in 2011. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

The former Haringey MP was appointed to the House of Lords after failing to get re-elected last May. She was joined in the upper house by Lorely Burt, who lost her Solihull seat, and several other former MPs including Sir Malcolm Bruce, Sir Alan Beith, Sir Menzies Campbell, Don Foster and Sir Andew Stunell.

David Laws – educational charities

David Laws Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images

Laws was appointed schools minister in 2012. He is now an unpaid adviser to educational charity Future First and a trustee of the Teacher Development Trust. Laws also advises the international division of the children’s charity Ark.

Alan Reid – running for Scottish parliament

Alan Reid lost his Argyll and Bute seat to the SNP in a landslide last year. However, he is hoping to make a rapid return to politics by running in the same area in the Scottish parliament elections for the Lib Dems in May.

Other MPs hoping to make a quick comeback to public office include ex-Withington MP John Leech, who said last July he would run for Manchester council. Gordon Birtwistle was already a councillor in Burnley during his time as an MP, while Adrian Sanders won a byelection in Torbay last November.

Michael Moore – PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

Former MP Michael Moore, who now advises PwC on devolution matters. Photograph: Gordon Jack/AFP/Getty Images

Moore became very familiar with the issue of devolution during his time as Scottish secretary. He is now advising the Devo Delivery Network at PwC, where he worked before becoming an MP.

Julian Huppert – lecturer at Cambridge University

After narrowly losing Cambridge last year, Huppert has joined the department of politics and international studies (POLIS) at Cambridge University as a lecturer.

Paul Burstow, once care services minister, has also gone into academia. He is now a professor at City University, as well as a chair of the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust.

And the others ...

Former pension minister Steve Webb has gone into insurance, working as head of policy for Royal London.

Jo Swinson has been getting stuck into a portfolio of roles after leaving her post as employment relations and consumer affairs minister. These include a non-executive directorship at Clear Returns, a business intelligence business, and a panel membership at BISL (commonly known as CompareTheMarket.com).

Former Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood is now director of engagement and impact at Development Initiatives.

Dan Rogerson, who was an undersecretary at the department of food, energy and rural affairs, now chairs Wessex Water.

Nick Clegg’s ex-parliamentary private secretary Duncan Hames now works in cyber security at Templar Executives.