Chris Heaton-Harris is Northern Eire’s new Secretary of State, Downing Road has introduced.
Mr Heaton-Harris (54), most not too long ago a former chief whip who guided the Northern Eire Protocol Invoice by way of the Home of Commons, additionally served as Minister of State for Europe and North America beneath Liz Truss when she was International Secretary.
The staunch brexiteer, who represents the constituency of Daventry in England, is changing Rishi Sunak backer Shailesh Vara.
Northern Eire minister Conor Burns stated he seemed ahead to supporting him.
The married, father-of-two’s appointment was made by Ms Truss after her opening speech as Prime Minister having been formally put in within the position by the Queen in Balmoral on Tuesday.
Mr Heaton-Harris, a self-described “fierce Eurosceptic”, is a former MEP and former chair of the European Analysis Group (ERG).
He had earlier been tipped to take the position after Ms Truss reportedly supplied the place to quite a few candidates, together with former Conservative Social gathering management rival Penny Mordaunt, who turned it down.
He joins different cupboard members resembling Kwasi Kwarteng and Therese Coffey, who had been promoted.
Mr Heaton-Harris turns into Northern Eire’s 18th Secretary of State and replaces Mr Vara who solely served within the position since July after changing Brandon Lewis who resigned.
After his sacking, Mr Vara stated it was his “nice privilege and honour to function Secretary of State on the Northern Eire Workplace and work with some glorious individuals.”
Who's Chris Heaton-Harris?
Born Christopher Heaton-Harris in Epsom, Surrey, the brand new NI Secretary labored and finally ran his household’s entire sale fruit and vegetable firm in New Convent Market earlier than getting into politics.
He was first elected as a Tory MP within the 2010 Common Election for Daventry, and has been re-elected to the seat in each normal election since.
Mr Heaton-Harris, in response to his web site, has been an energetic and certified soccer referee for 32 years, officiating the sport at varied totally different ranges. He's a present referee for Northampshire Mixture League and serves as President of Earls Barton Soccer Membership.
All through his political profession, he has held quite a few titles, together with Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands Area, Co-Chairman of the Recent Begin Venture, Chairman of the European Analysis Group of Conservative MPs, Assistant Authorities Whip, Controller of Her Majesty’s Family and Parliamentary Beneath Secretary of State on the Division for Exiting the EU.
A Brexiteer, he's additionally recognized for his advocacy of “smaller authorities and accountable spending” and describes himself as a “passionate localist”.
Mr Heaton-Harris beforehand visited Northern Eire earlier this yr alongside future PM after which International Secretary Liz Truss to take a look at the "influence of the Northern Eire Protocol.”