Fay Jones MP has been appointed as a minister in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Government.
The MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, who was first elected in 2019, is joining the Government Whips Office as Assistant Government Whip. Whips are Treasury Ministers who are responsible for delivering the Government’s agenda in Parliament, as well as overseeing party discipline and welfare issues. They are paid, full-time ministerial positions.
This is the first time in 25 years that Brecon and Radnorshire has been represented by a Government minister. The decision to appoint her is a sign of a strong Welsh presence at the top of Government. Ms Jones will serve under the new Chief Whip, Simon Hart MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire and former Secretary of State for Wales while Ms Jones’s Powys neighbour in Montgomeryshire – Craig Williams MP – is supporting the Prime Minister as his Parliamentary Private Secretary, one of the most influential roles in Government.
Ms Jones was an early supporter of the new Prime Minister; she voiced her support for Mr Sunak at the first opportunity, voting for him throughout the Parliamentary rounds of the contest and playing a leadership role in his campaign in the summer. She announced she was re-joining his campaign when Liz Truss stepped down from the premiership after just 44 days in office.
Speaking after her appointment, Ms Jones said:
“It’s a huge honour to be asked by the Prime Minister to serve in his government. After a difficult few weeks, I am absolutely confident that we are now on course to weather the difficult economic conditions facing our country. We have urgent problems to solve and it’s absolutely right that the Government is focussing on those. I am delighted to be able to play a part in delivering on the Prime Minister’s agenda in Parliament.
I am particularly pleased to be joining a very Welsh whips office. One of the key reasons why I backed Rishi to become Prime Minister is that he understands areas like Brecon and Radnorshire – he knows what rural areas need. Joining people like Simon Hart and Craig Williams in government shows that we are determined to deliver for rural Wales.
On top of this, the Prime Minister is clear that constituents right across Brecon and Radnorshire need urgent help. Throughout the pandemic, he prioritised the most vulnerable and I am confident he will do the same as we get through the cost of living crisis together.”