Clegg's spin chief returns to PR

Nick Clegg said Jonny Oates had "done a fantastic job"

Nick Clegg's spin chief is to leave the Liberal Democrats after 15 months - to return to his previous employer.

Jonny Oates left Bell Pottinger Public Affairs last year to become Mr Clegg's policy and communications director.

He is returning to the agency as director of strategic media relations after the Lib Dems' autumn conference.

Meanwhile Jenny Willott has become work and pensions spokesman, leaving Danny Alexander to concentrate on his other role as Mr Clegg's chief of staff.

Mr Oates' decision to quit comes just six months after Mr Clegg became Lib Dem leader, following the resignation of Sir Menzies Campbell last year.

'Wonderful time'

In that time, Mr Clegg has seen his party struggle to gain political ground, despite Labour's difficulties.

They came distant third during the Crewe & Nantwich by-election and, barring one or two notable gains, had a fairly lacklustre set of local election results in May.

Although I will be very sad to leave such a great team behind, this new role was too good an opportunity to miss, Jonny Oates

Mr Oates had been a director at Bell Pottinger, which he joined in 2004. The agency's clients include BAE Systems, Vodafone, BSkyB, Disney and Vauxhall.

Mr Oates said he had had "a wonderful time working for the party", adding that with "Nick's inspirational leadership, the party can only go from strength to strength".

"Although I will be very sad to leave such a great team behind, this new role was too good an opportunity to miss," he said.

Mr Clegg said Mr Oates had "done a fantastic job for the party" and was "personally grateful for his advice and support in the early months" of his leadership.

"The party has regained confidence and momentum in the last few months and Jonny's successor will have a key role to play at a time of great political opportunity for the party."

Mr Clegg said last week that the appointment of Ms Willott, to replace Mr Alexander as the party's work and pensions' spokesman, would "strengthen the Lib Dem team" as it moved towards a general election.

"I am delighted that Danny Alexander has agreed to continue as my chief of staff," he said.

"He will have a central role in our preparations for the general election - not least through the manifesto process that he will lead."