ARCHIE Norman, Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells, is joining London investment bankers Lazard. He will use his corporate expertise to help revitalise the bank after its third year of falling fee income.

Mr Norman, 49, made his name turning around Asda, the supermarket chain. When Asda got back on its feet he sold to Wal-Mart, the word's biggest retailer, for £6.7billion four years ago.

Lazard hopes that taking on Mr Norman, a corporate broker, will enable the company to sell merger and acquisition advice to existing clients, and attract new ones.

Mr Norman believes that it is healthy for politicians to have a foot in the real world. He was elected Tunbridge Wells' MP in 1997.