THE controversial career of Mark Oaten has taken a fresh twist with him landing a top job in the fur industry.

The former Winchester MP is the new chief executive of the International Fur Trade Federation.

Winchester Animal Concern, which holds regular protests against the industry, said it was “appalled” by the news.

Based at Weybridge in Surrey, the federation has links in 35 countries and states that its aim is to present a “factual image” of the fur trade.

However, when the Hampshire Chronicle called Mr Oaten this week, he was tight-lipped about his new role.

Apart form saying he was “loving every minute of it” and that the job involved plenty of travel, he declined to discuss it further.

In a press statement following his appointment, he said: “I am very proud to be joining such a successful and historic trade. Although we are growing from strength to strength, there are plenty of issues throughout the world that I will need to focus on.

“It is also important that we do more to promote fur internationally. I served for 13 years as a member of parliament in the UK and for four years on the Council of Europe, so I know how important effective lobbying can be.”

Now aged 47, Mr Oaten, a married father-of-two, left politics in May 2010 and his seat was retaken by the Tories.

He revealed his intention to leave politics one year after a tabloid sex scandal in 2006, which forced him to quit the Lib Dem front bench.

While still an MP, he also took part in a reality television show where he lived on a Dagenham council estate with limited income for one week.

During his 13 years at Westminster, the fox hunting ban also went through parliament, which he opposed.

His decision to take on his new job has been criticised by Winchester Animal Concern.

Its coordinator, Marjorie Pooley, said they wanted the city to be ‘fur free’. Following their protests, only one stockist remained, she added.

She said: “We’re trying to make Winchester a fur free city and we’re continuing to do so, but I must say Mark Oaten’s decision is appalling.”

She added: “All I can say is that we’re very disappointed and we will be lobbying him.”

Along with other animal rights activists from across Britain, Ms Pooley took part in a fur trade protest on Tuesday (March 22).

It was held outside the Finnish embassy in London to demonstrate against the country’s role in the industry.