The wife of former Kingston and Surbiton MP Ed Davey has been listed as one of the Liberal Democrats’ top candidates for the Greater London Assembly.

Emily Davey, a long-standing member of the party herself, has been listed second, three places ahead of current GLA member and former Richmond Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition Stephen Knight.

Being placed higher up the list means she has a much greater chance of being elected.

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Her husband, who served as the energy secretary in the Cabinet before losing his seat to Conservative James Berry in May's general election, said his other half “was a politician in her own right”.

He added: “In the past she has supported me greatly, but since May she has been looking to use her experience in housing.

“I think she will be a real asset. We want three or four assembly members so she has got a good chance.”

Taking a back seat from politics for now, Mr Davey had to wait three months before he was allowed to work after the election and has now begun working in energy consultancy.