Pro-ticket tout Tory takes up post of Business Secretary in Cameron's new Cabinet

Yep, the guy who called ticket-touts "classic entrepeneurs" has been given the job of running the UK's business interests. He takes over from Liberal Democrat Vince Cable, who was ousted in last week's General Election after representing Twickenham since 1997.

John Whittingdale becomes Culture Secretary.

Javid's comments, made while a backbencher, came to light last year:

“Ticket resellers act like classic entrepreneurs, because they fill a gap in the market that they have identified. They provide a service that can help people who did not obtain a supply of tickets in the original sale to purchase them for sporting and cultural events... as long as those tickets have been acquired genuinely and lawfully, it is an honest transaction, and there should be no government restriction on someone’s ability to sell them.”

And his tactical riposte to those criticising his views? Well, apparently they are just “chattering middle classes and champagne socialists, who have no interest in helping the common working man earn a decent living by acting as a middleman in the sale of a proper service.”

Sports, music and entertainment bodies were understandably irate, and even fellow Conservative MPs thought he was way off-base.

Tory MP Mike Weatherley, the co-chairman of the bipartisan group tackling ticket abuse, said of Javid's remarks at the time: “I think he is wrong on this and it is my job to re-educate him. If money is going to people who are speculators it is not in the best interests of the music industry.”

Let's hope Weatherley's completed his task, as now it's up to Javid to enforce and deal with the issue of touting.