“Because all the things they say I don’t comment on, I now can and am… I no longer have to support the government.”

Topping the agenda in his newly assumed role as a backbencher is the region’s ailing infrastructure.

He shares the view that for too long the Westcountry has “suffered unfairly” from underinvestment.

“Just imagine if HS2 wasn’t going to go ahead – how much money that would release for the kind of infrastructure development we need in the South West,” he states.

“We had a good meeting with Network Rail and GWR this week, looking at their new rolling stock and the challenges to upgrade the line. [But] that’s something we’re going to have to really watch and make sure the funding is in place.”

He is also following developments with Devon Success Regime, including the campaign to keep beds in the local community hospital.

And he wants to make sure the region catches up with the roll-out of superfast broadband services.

“Every single Conservative candidate in the South West was elected on a Conservative manifesto, and it is up to every single member of Parliament to ensure their delivery is as good as their pledge,” he says.

Going from being one of he most well-travelled ministers in Government to a member of the “rank and file” has taken some getting used to.

The responsibilities associated with Mr Swire’s previous role made him heavily reliant on staff to manage his diary and provide briefings. Now, he admits he often struggles to make it to meetings on time.

However, he is staying involved with international affairs as deputy chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and head of the Conservative Middle East Council.

He says he hopes to see the UK taking more of a lead on Syria – pointing out that it would be a “wonderful opportunity” for Boris Johnson “to show what hes made of”.

“You’ve got Putin.. responsible for some biblical atrocities [and] I weep for the people of Syria,” he says. “This is a good opportunity for Britain to show some leadership.”