He was also a councillor in the London Borough of Merton and - interestingly - worked as a researcher for one of the local MPs, Siobhan McDonagh, the junior Whip sacked for calling for a leadership contest.

BBC: Profile: David Cairns

Lib Dem committee member Paul Tyler put it well when he expressed the group's dismay that good chairmen often gave up their jobs to become "junior whip in charge of bottle washing" because it was more likely to boost their chances of ministerial posts.

BBC: By Nick Assinder

He was a whip from 1990 to 1993 when he was made junior minister for public service.

BBC: David Davis