Hunt campaigner in rapid rise to become Welsh Secretary

A MINISTER who only joined the Government five months ago when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister is the Cabinet’s new Welsh Secretary.

Simon Hart – a backbencher who became minister for implementation in the Cabinet Office last July – replaces Alun Cairns as Secretary of State for Wales. Mr Hart, the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP, was the chief executive of the Countryside Alliance between 2003–2010, stepping down after his election as MP.

The Countryside Alliance, which Mr Hart has been part of for the past 20 years, aims to promote acceptance of rural activities such as hunting and shooting in a managed landscape.

The 56-year-old, who also served as the group’s director of the campaign for hunting, became its chairman in 2015, but stepped down in August.

He supported Boris Johnson in his leadership bid, describing him as the “most fascinating, and therefore the most electable” out of the Tory candidates earlier this year.

On Brexit, Mr Hart campaigned to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum, but later became one of the leaders of the Brexit Delivery Group which backed Theresa May’s deal over a no-deal Brexit. Before becoming involved in politics, he was a chartered surveyor and served with the Territorial Army for seven years.

Anne-marie Trevelyan is promoted to Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, replacing Mark Lancaster, who leaves the Government.

Jeremy Quin is made a minister at the Cabinet Office while David Davies becomes a Wales Office minister and assistant Government whip.

James Heappey becomes a minister at the Ministry of Defence, Kevin Foster is a Home Office minister and Robin Walker a Northern Ireland Office minister.