Eduardo Zaplana has announced today that he has given up his parliamentary seat to take up a post within Telefónica's European operation.

After the recent general election defeat, Mr Zaplana, a former regional president of Valencia and cabinet minister under José María Aznar, was replaced as the party's parliamentary spokesman by María Sáenz de Santamaría.

At the time, PP leader Mariano Rajoy thanked his former number three for everything he had done for the party, and Mr Zaplana said that he wanted "to continue working for the PP as a simple backbencher."

Today's announcement coincides with a meeting of the parliamentary party at which Mr Rajoy will finally confirm the make-up of his shadow cabinet.