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Cabinet reshuffle: Simon Hart appointed new Welsh secretary | Cabinet reshuffle: Simon Hart appointed new Welsh secretary |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Simon Hart has been named 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. | The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP was previously a junior minister in the Cabinet Office. |
Monmouth MP David TC Davies has been made junior minister in the Wales Office and will be deputy to Mr Hart. | |
Mr Davies, the former chairman of the Welsh Affairs Committee, will also serve as an assistant government whip, No 10 confirmed on Monday evening. | |
He is the sixth person to hold the ministerial role in the past two years. | |
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." | 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 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". |
Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford, from Welsh Labour, said he was "pleased to see a new Secretary of State for Wales appointed so quickly". | |
"I hope to meet soon to discuss Welsh Government priorities and ensure they are heard at the UK Government's cabinet table," he added. | |
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. | 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. |