# Simon Baynes

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British politician

For the British Olympic skier, see [Simon Baynes (skier)](/source/Simon_Baynes_(skier)).

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 (1960-04-21) 21 April 1960 (age 66) Lesbury, Northumberland, England Party Conservative Alma mater Magdalene College, Cambridge Occupation Politician Website Official website

**Simon Robert Maurice Baynes** (born 21 April 1960) is a British [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) former politician who served as the [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) (MP) for [Clwyd South](/source/Clwyd_South_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) from [2019](/source/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election) to [2024](/source/2024_United_Kingdom_general_election).[2][3] He served as [Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration](/source/Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_of_State_for_Justice_and_Tackling_Illegal_Migration) from July to September 2022.[4][5] Baynes worked in finance for [J.P. Morgan Cazenove](/source/J.P._Morgan_Cazenove) from 1982 to 2006, before running a small bookshop in [Shrewsbury](/source/Shrewsbury).[6][7]

## Early life and education

Baynes was born in [Lesbury](/source/Lesbury), [Northumberland](/source/Northumberland), the son of Sir John Christopher Malcolm Baynes, 7th Baronet and Shirley Maxwell Baynes (*née* Dodds). He grew up in [Montgomeryshire](/source/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](/source/Belhaven_Hill_School) and [Shrewsbury School](/source/Shrewsbury_School), before studying at [Magdalene College, Cambridge](/source/Magdalene_College%2C_Cambridge), where he graduated with a [BA](/source/Bachelor's_degree) 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](/source/President_of_the_Cambridge_Union). In 1982, he was Chairman of the [Cambridge University Conservative Association](/source/Cambridge_University_Conservative_Association).[3]

## Early career

Baynes 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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Llanfyllin) Workhouse (2005–12), Mid Wales Opera (2012–19), [Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Llanfyllin_High_School).[3]

## Political career

He stood as the [Welsh Conservative](/source/Welsh_Conservatives) candidate in [Montgomeryshire](/source/Montgomeryshire_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) in 2005, finishing second behind incumbent [Liberal Democrat](/source/Liberal_Democrats_(UK)) MP [Lembit Öpik](/source/Lembit_%C3%96pik).[9] He unsuccessfully sought the Conservative nomination for the seat of [South Staffordshire](/source/South_Staffordshire_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) in 2010,[10] losing out to future cabinet minister [Gavin Williamson](/source/Gavin_Williamson). He then contested [Dwyfor Meirionnydd](/source/Dwyfor_Meirionnydd_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) at the [2010 general election](/source/2010_United_Kingdom_general_election),[11] and [the same seat](/source/Dwyfor_Meirionnydd_(National_Assembly_for_Wales_constituency)) in the [2011 National Assembly for Wales Election](/source/2011_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election), both times without success.[12]

Baynes was a Conservative member of [Powys County Council](/source/Powys_County_Council) from [2008](/source/2008_Powys_County_Council_election) to [2012](/source/2012_Powys_County_Council_election), 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](/source/Montgomeryshire) town of [Llanfyllin](/source/Llanfyllin) from 2018 to 2020.[13]

He has contested elections in Clwyd South on three occasions. He first contested [Clwyd South](/source/Clwyd_South_(Assembly_constituency)) in the [2016 Welsh Assembly election](/source/2016_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election). In [2017](/source/2017_United_Kingdom_general_election) he contested the [marginal](/source/Marginal_seat) Westminster seat.[14][15] On all three occasions he finished second. He was elected to Parliament for Clwyd South at the [2019 general election](/source/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election), to serve in the [58th Parliament](/source/List_of_MPs_elected_in_the_2019_United_Kingdom_general_election).[16] He defeated the incumbent [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK)) MP [Susan Elan Jones](/source/Susan_Elan_Jones).[17][18]

On 2 March 2020, Baynes became a member of the [Welsh Affairs Select Committee](/source/Welsh_Affairs_Select_Committee).[19]

He endorsed [Priti Patel](/source/Priti_Patel) in the [July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election](/source/July_2022_Conservative_Party_leadership_election), but she did not end up standing.[20] He then supported [Rishi Sunak](/source/Rishi_Sunak).[21]

Clwyd South was abolished at the [2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies](/source/2023_Periodic_Review_of_Westminster_constituencies), therefore Baynes was selected to fight the neighbouring Liberal Democrat held English seat of [North Shropshire](/source/North_Shropshire_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) for the [Conservatives](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) in the [2024 general election](/source/2024_United_Kingdom_general_election).[22] He lost to the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP [Helen Morgan](/source/Helen_Morgan_(politician)) by over 30% (15,000 votes).[23]

## Personal life

Baynes 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

- (with Sir John Baynes, G. V. Westropp) *Lake Vyrnwy: The Story of a Sporting Hotel*. United Kingdom, Quiller Publishing, Limited, 2019. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781846892981](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781846892981), [1846892988](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1846892988).

- *The Forgotten Country House: The Rise and Fall of Roundway Park*. United Kingdom, Quiller Press, Limited, 2019. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781846893063](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781846893063), [1846893062](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1846893062).

## Electoral history

### 2024 UK general election

General election 2024: North Shropshire[26] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Helen Morgan 26,214 52.9 +42.9 Conservative Simon Baynes 10,903 22.0 −39.7 Reform 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

General election 2019: Clwyd South 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

General election 2017: Clwyd South 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

Welsh Assembly Election 2016: Clwyd South 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

Welsh Assembly Election 2011: Dwyfor Meirionnydd 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

General election 2010: Dwyfor Meirionnydd 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

General election 2005: Montgomeryshire 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

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** As Minister of State for Immigration

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Jointly with the [Home Office](/source/Home_Office).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Clwyd South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019"](https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/W07000062). *bbc.com*. Retrieved 13 December 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:2_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:2_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:2_4-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:2_4-6) ["Baynes, Simon Robert Maurice, (born 21 April 1960), MP (C) Clwyd South, since 2019"](https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-293969). *WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO*. 2020. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u293969](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fww%2F9780199540884.013.u293969). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-954088-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-954088-4). Retrieved 29 April 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Ministerial appointments: July 2022"](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2022). *GOV.UK*. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Simon Baynes MP"](https://www.gov.uk/government/people/simon-baynes). *GOV.UK*. Retrieved 24 September 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_7-2) PoliticsHome.com (12 December 2019). ["Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs"](https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/house/house-magazine/108577/class-2019-meet-new-mps). *PoliticsHome.com*. Retrieved 17 December 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_8-1) ["About Simon Baynes"](https://www.simonbaynes.co.uk/about-simon-baynes). *SimonBaynes.co.uk*. Retrieved 16 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [""It's vital we see a rehabilitation strategy in place for those living with dementia""](https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18928410.vital-see-rehabilitation-strategy-place-living-dementia/). *The Leader*. 9 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Results | Montgomeryshire"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/410.stm). *news.bbc.co.uk*. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Final six for Staffordshire South"](https://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2010/01/final-six-for-staffordshire-south.html). *conservativehome.com*. Retrieved 17 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Dwyfor Meirionnydd"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/w21.stm). *news.bbc.co.uk*. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["BBC News - Election 2011 - Wales - Dwyfor Meirionnydd"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/constituency/html/26684.stm). *BBC News*. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Llanfyllin Town Councillors | Llanfyllin Town Website"](https://llanfyllin.org/organisations/llanfyllin-town-council/llanfyllin-town-councillors/). Retrieved 16 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Clwyd South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019"](https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/W07000062). *BBC News*. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Council, Denbighshire County (1 April 2013). ["Denbighshire County Council"](https://moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=458&RPID=9684732&LLL=0). *moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk*. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Clwyd South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019"](https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/W07000062). *bbc.com*. Retrieved 17 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Conservatives topple Labour in Clwyd South in shock result"](https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/18100101.simon-baynes-emerged-winner-majority-1-239-votes-labours-susan-elan-jones/). *Denbighshire Free Press*. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["General Election 2019: The winners and the losers"](https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50776783). *BBC News*. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Parliamentary career for Simon Baynes - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament"](https://members.parliament.uk/member/4800/career). *members.parliament.uk*. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["'I urge her to stand': Simon Baynes backs Priti Patel for next Tory leader"](https://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/20273133.clywd-souths-simon-baynes-backs-priti-patel-tory-leader/). *Border Counties Advertiser*. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:6_22-0)** House, Coffee. ["Full list: Tory endorsements for next leader"](https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/full-list-tory-endorsements-for-next-leader). [The Spectator](/source/The_Spectator). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220708122203/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/full-list-tory-endorsements-for-next-leader) from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Robertson, Dominic (22 July 2023). ["North Shropshire Conservatives choose their candidate for the General Election"](https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/oswestry/2023/07/22/north-shropshire-conservatives-choose-their-candidate-for-the-general-election/). *www.shropshirestar.com*. Retrieved 22 July 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["North Shropshire - UK General election 2024"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001398). *BBC News*. Retrieved 20 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wrexham.com_25-0)** ["A view from Clwyd South's Member of Parliament"](http://www.wrexham.com/columns/a-view-from-clwyd-souths-member-of-parliament-2-186335.html). *Wrexham.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Simon Baynes"](https://www.quillerpublishing.com/quiller-author/simon-baynes).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["UK parliamentary election - 4 July 2024"](https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/elections-and-electoral-registration/election-results/uk-parliamentary-election-4-july-2024/). *Shropshire Council*. Retrieved 7 July 2024.

## External links

- [Profile](https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/member/4800) at [Parliament of the United Kingdom](/source/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom)

- [Contributions in Parliament](https://hansard.parliament.uk/search/MemberContributions?memberId=4800) at *[Hansard](/source/Hansard)*

- [Voting record](https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Simon_Baynes) at [Public Whip](/source/Public_Whip)

- [Record in Parliament](https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/simon_baynes) at [TheyWorkForYou](/source/TheyWorkForYou)

- [Profile](https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/Q75427885) on OpenSanctions, an open database of sanctions and persons of interest

- [Profile](https://wikidata-externalid-url.toolforge.org/?p=4638&url_prefix=https://www.thepeerage.com/&id=p13524.htm#i135235) at [The Peerage](/source/The_Peerage) genealogical website

Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by Susan Elan Jones Member of Parliament for Clwyd South 2019–2024 Constituency abolished

v t e Conservative Party MPs in Wales Until 1990s Nicholas Bennett Jonathan Evans Roger Evans Ian Grist Gwilym Jones Rod Richards Wyn Roberts Walter Sweeney Until 2019 Guto Bebb Chris Davies Until 2024 Sarah Atherton Simon Baynes Alun Cairns Stephen Crabb Virginia Crosbie David TC Davies James Davies Simon Hart David Jones Fay Jones Robin Millar Katie Wallis Craig Williams

Authority control databases People UK Parliament Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Simon Baynes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Baynes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Baynes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.