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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cabinet reshuffle: Simon Hart appointed new Welsh secretary | Cabinet reshuffle: Simon Hart appointed new Welsh secretary |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Simon Hart has been named as the new Welsh secretary after Boris Johnson's election victory for the Conservatives. | Simon Hart has been named as the new Welsh secretary after Boris Johnson's election victory for the Conservatives. |
| He succeeds Alun Cairns, who resigned at the start of the campaign amid a row over what he knew about an aide's role in the collapse of a rape trial. | He succeeds Alun Cairns, who resigned at the start of the campaign amid a row over what he knew about an aide's role in the collapse of a rape trial. |
| The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP was previously a junior minister in the Cabinet Office. | |
| Mr Hart said: "It's great to have this opportunity. I've got my orders and I'm going to try and do it as best I can." | |
| Boris Johnson led the Tories to their biggest election win in more than 30 years with a majority of 80, after pledging to "get Brexit done" by the end of January. | Boris Johnson led the Tories to their biggest election win in more than 30 years with a majority of 80, after pledging to "get Brexit done" by the end of January. |
| The Welsh secretary oversees relations between the Welsh Government and Whitehall departments. | |
| The appointment was welcomed by Welsh Assembly Conservatives - Senedd party leader Paul Davies gave him his "huge congratulations". | The appointment was welcomed by Welsh Assembly Conservatives - Senedd party leader Paul Davies gave him his "huge congratulations". |
| South Wales Central Assembly Member David Melding said it was an astute appointment "which promises much for Wales as we begin a new political chapter". | South Wales Central Assembly Member David Melding said it was an astute appointment "which promises much for Wales as we begin a new political chapter". |
| Who is Simon Hart? | Who is Simon Hart? |
| Mr Hart came to Parliament in 2010 with a background in rural affairs as chief executive of the Countryside Alliance and a former master of the South Pembrokeshire Hunt. | |
| A chartered surveyor by profession, he served on the backbenches until July when Boris Johnson took power and appointed him as a junior minister at the Cabinet Office. | A chartered surveyor by profession, he served on the backbenches until July when Boris Johnson took power and appointed him as a junior minister at the Cabinet Office. |
| He backed Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, but later emerged as leader of the Brexit Delivery Group, made up of MPs from both sides of the argument who sought a pragmatic approach to Brexit. | He backed Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, but later emerged as leader of the Brexit Delivery Group, made up of MPs from both sides of the argument who sought a pragmatic approach to Brexit. |
| He has also been prominent in calls for greater protection for candidates and activists, claiming abuse was driving people out of politics. | He has also been prominent in calls for greater protection for candidates and activists, claiming abuse was driving people out of politics. |