FORMER deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg has landed a senior job with global social media giant Facebook.

In a move that took the UK politics world by surprise, the 51-year-old will start work as vice president, global affairs and communications on Monday.

It is understood that Sir Nick, who lost his Sheffield Hallam seat at last year's election, will move permanently to the firm's Menlo Park headquarters in California's Silicon Valley with his family in January.

It comes as Mark Zuckerberg seeks to repair the company's reputation in the face of rows over transparency and the role of "fake news" on the platform following the 2016 EU referendum and the 2017 election of Donald Trump as US president.

It is understood that Mr Zuckerberg was personally involved in hiring Sir Nick, who led the Liberal Democrats from 2007 to 2015, including through five years in the coalition government with the Tories.

In a statement – appropriately enough, posted to Facebook – Sir Nick said he was “delighted” to be joining the tech giant.

He said: “Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, Oculus and Instagram are at the heart of so many people’s everyday lives – but also at the heart of some of the most complex and difficult questions we face as a society – the privacy of the individual, the integrity of our democratic process, the tensions between local cultures and the global internet, the balance between free speech and prohibited content, the power and concerns around artificial intelligence, and the wellbeing of our children.

“I believe that Facebook must continue to play a role in finding answers to these questions – not by acting alone in Silicon Valley, but by working with people, organisations, governments and regulators around the world to ensure that technology is a force for good.

“I look forward to being part of this endeavour. Throughout my public life I have relished grappling with difficult and controversial issues and seeking to communicate them to others. I hope to use some of those skills in my new role.”

He added: “As someone who has spent a lifetime arguing for Britain’s wholehearted commitment to Europe, it is of course a wrench to be leaving the public debate at a crucial time in the Brexit process. But the key decisions will soon pass to Parliament, of which I am no longer a member, and once I had decided to take up this unique new challenge at Facebook, I felt it was best to get going sooner rather than later.”

Sir Nick replaces Elliot Schrage, who will remain an adviser to the firm.