South Swindon MP Robert Buckland has been re-appointed as Welsh secretary as Liz Truss names her first cabinet since becoming Prime Minister. The announcement came in a reshuffle that saw her reward allies with top jobs.
He has been in the role since July, replacing Simon Hart who quit Boris Johnson's government. A decision that was criticised by Plaid Cymru because despite him being born in Wales, he is an MP for the English constituency of South Swindon.
He initially backed Rishi Sunak in the leadership contest, but switched to Ms Truss mid-August, writing the-then foreign secretary was the "right person to take the country forward".
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Sir Robert was born in Llanelli in 1968. He became a barrister and after living in England returned to Wales to practice working in criminal law in the courts in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport.
He has been a member of Apex Chambers in Cardiff. He unsuccessfully stood for election for the Conservatives and European and general elections several times before being elected as the Tory MP in South Swindon in 2010 at the second attempt.
He has previously served as Lord Chancellor and Solicitor General. He is married to Sian and has two children Millicent and George and lives in Wroughton, Wiltshire.
Liz Truss' new cabinet will be meeting for the first time this morning after she handed out the government's top jobs to her closest allies. Kwasi Kwarteng has been appointed Chancellor, James Cleverly is the new Foreign Secretary and Suella Braverman is now in charge of the Home Office.
Commenting on the new Cabinet, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies MS said: "I congratulate the Prime Minister on the appointment of her first cabinet, equipped to deal with the challenges ahead – from addressing the rising cost-of-living and supporting Ukraine to reforming public services and growing the economy, they are the people most able to take them head-on.
“I am also very happy to see Robert Buckland remain Welsh Secretary – he is an asset to our nation, and I look forward to working with him – both to make Wales a better place and hold Mark Drakeford’s failing Labour Government to account.”
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