Simon Robert Maurice Baynes (born 21 April 1960) is a British Conservative former politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Clwyd South from 2019 to 2024.[2][3] He served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration from July to September 2022.[4][5] He was elected as Baynes worked in finance for J.P. Morgan Cazenove from 1982 to 2006, before running a small bookshop in Shrewsbury.[6][7]
Simon Baynes | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration[1] | |
| In office 8 July 2022 – 8 September 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Tom Pursglove |
| Succeeded by | Tom Pursglove[a] |
| Member of Parliament for Clwyd South | |
| In office 12 December 2019 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Susan Elan Jones |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 April 1960 Lesbury, Northumberland, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | Magdalene College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | Official website |
Early life and education
editBaynes was born in Lesbury, Northumberland, the son of Sir John Christopher Malcolm Baynes, 7th Baronet and Shirley Maxwell Baynes (née Dodds). He grew up in Montgomeryshire, where his father ran the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel. He and his father have since co-authored a book on the hotel.[6]
He was privately educated at both Belhaven Hill Preparatory School and Shrewsbury School, before studying at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a BA in History. Whilst at the university, he was a choral exhibitioner and won the Dunster History Essay Prize. He was also President of the Cambridge Union. In 1982, he was Chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association.[3]
Early career
editBaynes was a partner at Cazenove & Co., and latterly a managing director of JPMorgan Cazenove, from 1982 to 2006. From 2007 to 2011, he was the owner and bookseller of Simon Baynes - Books and Music in Shrewsbury.[3]
He has been a trustee (and was the founder) of Concertina - Music for the Elderly, which he formed in 1998 with his wife. It provides live music in care homes for the elderly.[7] His mother-in-law suffered from dementia.[8] He founded the Bodfach Charitable Trust in 2006, which he is also a trustee of. In addition, he has been a trustee of the Y Dolydd Llanfyllin Workhouse (2005–12), Mid Wales Opera (2012–19), Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (2017–19) and Friends of St Myllin's Church (2018–19), the latter of which he is a patron of.[3]
From 2005 to 2012, Baynes was Chairman of North Powys Youth Music. He has also been Chairman of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust (2016–19) and the Holroyd Community Theatre (2018–19). He was the founder and Chairman of the Montgomeryshire Literary Festival (2018–19). From 2017 to 2019, he was a governor at Llanfyllin High School.[3]
Political career
editHe stood as the Welsh Conservative candidate in Montgomeryshire in 2005, finishing second behind incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Öpik.[9] He unsuccessfully sought the Conservative nomination for the seat of South Staffordshire in 2010,[10] losing out to future cabinet minister Gavin Williamson. He then contested Dwyfor Meirionnydd at the 2010 general election,[11] and the same seat in the 2011 National Assembly for Wales Election, both times without success.[12]
Baynes was a Conservative member of Powys County Council from 2008 to 2012, and joint leader of the Conservative group.[6] The following year, he joined Llanfyllin Town Council, where he remained a member until 2019. He served as the mayor of the eponymous Montgomeryshire town of Llanfyllin from 2018 to 2020.[13]
He has contested elections in Clwyd South on three occasions. He first contested Clwyd South in the 2016 Welsh Assembly election. In 2017 he contested the marginal Westminster seat.[14][15] On all three occasions he finished second. He was elected to Parliament for Clwyd South at the 2019 general election, to serve in the 58th Parliament.[16] He defeated the incumbent Labour MP Susan Elan Jones.[17][18]
On 2 March 2020, Baynes became a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.[19]
He endorsed Priti Patel in the July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, but she did not end up standing.[20] He then supported Rishi Sunak.[21]
Clwyd South was abolished at the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, therefore Baynes was selected to fight the neighbouring Liberal Democrat held English seat of North Shropshire for the Conservatives in the 2024 general election.[22] He lost to the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan by over 30% (15,000 votes).[23]
Personal life
editBaynes married his wife Margaret (known as Maggie), an architect, in 1992.[3] They have two daughters.[24][25]
He lists his recreations as "music (including playing the organ for church services), theatre, concerts, gardening, heritage".[3]
Publications
edit- (with Sir John Baynes, G. V. Westropp) Lake Vyrnwy: The Story of a Sporting Hotel. United Kingdom, Quiller Publishing, Limited, 2019. ISBN 9781846892981, 1846892988.
- The Forgotten Country House: The Rise and Fall of Roundway Park. United Kingdom, Quiller Press, Limited, 2019. ISBN 9781846893063, 1846893062.
Electoral history
edit2024 UK general election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Helen Morgan | 26,214 | 52.9 | +42.9 | |
| Conservative | Simon Baynes | 10,903 | 22.0 | −39.7 | |
| Reform UK | Mark Whittle | 7,687 | 15.5 | +15.5 | |
| Labour | Natalie Rowley | 3,423 | 6.9 | −15.5 | |
| Green | Craig Emery | 1,234 | 2.5 | −0.8 | |
| Independent | Samuel Cladingbowl | 133 | 0.3 | +0.3 | |
| Majority | 15,311 | 30.9 | −9.7 | ||
| Turnout | 49,594 | 64.1 | −3.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 77,573 | ||||
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +41.3 | |||
2019 UK general election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Simon Baynes | 16,222 | 44.7 | +5.6 | |
| Labour | Susan Elan Jones | 14,983 | 41.3 | −9.4 | |
| Plaid Cymru | Christopher Allen | 2,137 | 5.9 | −0.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Calum Davies | 1,496 | 4.1 | +2.2 | |
| Brexit Party | Jamie Adams | 1,468 | 4.0 | N/A | |
| Rejected ballots | 110 | ||||
| Majority | 1,239 | 3.4 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 36,306 | 67.3 | −2.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 53,919 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 7.5 | |||
2017 UK general election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Susan Elan Jones | 19,002 | 50.7 | +13.5 | |
| Conservative | Simon Baynes | 14,646 | 39.1 | +8.7 | |
| Plaid Cymru | Christopher Allen | 2,292 | 6.1 | −4.2 | |
| UKIP | Jeanette Bassford-Barton | 802 | 2.1 | −13.5 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Bruce Roberts | 731 | 2.0 | −1.8 | |
| Rejected ballots | 56 | ||||
| Majority | 4,356 | 11.6 | +4.7 | ||
| Turnout | 37,473 | 68.9 | +5.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 54,266 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | +2.4 | |||
2016 Welsh Assembly election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Ken Skates | 7,862 | 35.5 | −6.9 | |
| Conservative | Simon Baynes | 4,846 | 21.9 | −7.3 | |
| Plaid Cymru | Mabon ap Gwynfor | 3,861 | 17.4 | −1.1 | |
| UKIP | Mandy Jones | 2,827 | 12.8 | +12.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Aled Roberts | 2,289 | 10.3 | +0.5 | |
| Green | Duncan Rees | 474 | 2.1 | +2.1 | |
| Majority | 3,016 | 13.6 | +0.3 | ||
| Turnout | 22,159 | 40.9 | +4.0 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | +0.2 | |||
2011 Welsh Assembly election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaid Cymru | Dafydd Elis-Thomas | 9,656 | 46.6 |  13.1
| |
| Conservative | Simon Baynes | 4,239 | 20.4 |  0.8
| |
| Llais Gwynedd | Louise Hughes | 3,225 | 15.5 | N/A | |
| Labour | Martyn Singleton | 2,623 | 12.6 | 0.2
| |
| Liberal Democrats | Stephen Churchman | 1,000 | 4.8 | 3.5
| |
| Majority | 5,417 | 26.1 | 14.0
| ||
| Turnout | 20,743 | 46.3 | 1.1
| ||
| Plaid Cymru hold | Swing | 7.0
|
|||
2010 UK general election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaid Cymru | Elfyn Llwyd | 12,814 | 44.3 | N/A | |
| Conservative | Simon Baynes | 6,447 | 22.3 | N/A | |
| Labour | Alwyn Humphreys | 4,021 | 13.9 | N/A | |
| Liberal Democrats | Stephen Churchman | 3,538 | 12.2 | N/A | |
| Independent | Louise Hughes | 1,310 | 4.5 | N/A | |
| UKIP | Frank Wykes | 776 | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Majority | 6,367 | 22.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 28,906 | 63.7 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 45,354 | ||||
| Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | |||||
2005 UK general election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Lembit Öpik | 15,419 | 51.2 | +1.8 | |
| Conservative | Simon Baynes | 8,246 | 27.4 | −0.5 | |
| Labour | David Tinline | 3,454 | 11.5 | −0.4 | |
| Plaid Cymru | Ellen ap Gwynn | 2,078 | 6.9 | +0.1 | |
| UKIP | Clive Easton | 900 | 3.0 | +0.3 | |
| Majority | 7,173 | 23.8 | +2.3 | ||
| Turnout | 30,097 | 64.4 | −1.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 46,766 | ||||
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +1.2 | |||
Notes
edit- ^ As Minister of State for Immigration
References
edit- ^ Jointly with the Home Office.
- ^ "Clwyd South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". bbc.com. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Baynes, Simon Robert Maurice, (born 21 April 1960), MP (C) Clwyd South, since 2019". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2020. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u293969. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "Ministerial appointments: July 2022". GOV.UK. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Simon Baynes MP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ a b c PoliticsHome.com (12 December 2019). "Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs". PoliticsHome.com. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ a b "About Simon Baynes". SimonBaynes.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ ""It's vital we see a rehabilitation strategy in place for those living with dementia"". The Leader. 9 December 2020.
- ^ "BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Results | Montgomeryshire". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Final six for Staffordshire South". conservativehome.com. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Dwyfor Meirionnydd". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Wales - Dwyfor Meirionnydd". BBC News. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Llanfyllin Town Councillors | Llanfyllin Town Website". Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Clwyd South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ Council, Denbighshire County (1 April 2013). "Denbighshire County Council". moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Clwyd South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". bbc.com. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "Conservatives topple Labour in Clwyd South in shock result". Denbighshire Free Press. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "General Election 2019: The winners and the losers". BBC News. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Simon Baynes - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "'I urge her to stand': Simon Baynes backs Priti Patel for next Tory leader". Border Counties Advertiser. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ House, Coffee. "Full list: Tory endorsements for next leader". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ Robertson, Dominic (22 July 2023). "North Shropshire Conservatives choose their candidate for the General Election". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "North Shropshire - UK General election 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "A view from Clwyd South's Member of Parliament". Wrexham.com.
- ^ "Simon Baynes".
- ^ "UK parliamentary election - 4 July 2024". Shropshire Council. Retrieved 7 July 2024.