Cambridgeshire MP appointed new Northern Ireland Secretary
Shailesh Vara resigned from the Northern Ireland Office in 2018. - Credit: Chris McAndrew on Creative Commons
A Cambridgeshire MP has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Shailesh Vara, who has been the Member of Parliament for North West Cambridgeshire since 2005, was appointed today (Thursday, July 7) following the resignation of his predecessor this morning.
Brandon Lewis' exit is one of a number of Cabinet resignations to have been tendered over the past week.
Shailesh Vara has previously served as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Office, but now takes on the role of Secretary of State.
The Ugandan-born man resigned as junior minister, in protest of Theresa May's planned Brexit deal in November 2018.
The MP has also served as a minister for Justice, Work and Pensions and as a Government Whip.
Between 2001 and 2005, he worked as Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party, and has held various roles within the party itself.
Most Read
- 1 Man alleged to have kidnapped child sparks heavy police presence
- 2 Paddleboarder dies after getting into difficulty on river
- 3 Man, 37, named as A14 death crash victim
- 4 Chip shop’s new platter dish ‘The Great Gordon’ tribute to late founder
- 5 Two vehicles in ditches after crash on A141 between March and Guyhirn
- 6 Fraudster rented out homes for cannabis factories worth over £300k
- 7 Man who glassed another man in the head after a fight jailed
- 8 ‘We should be offered compensation’ - Campaigner's plea to Steve Barclay
- 9 Health secretary to investigate financial redress for mesh-injured
- 10 Man suspected of touching child outside supermarket
Prior to his career in politics, Shailesh Vara was educated at Aylesbury Grammar School and Brunel University.
He is also a qualified solicitor.
