South of England MP appointed Wales Minister

An MP representing Eastleigh in the south of England has been appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Welsh Office.

Mims Davies, 43, will combine the role with her job as an assistant government whip.

She replaces Stuart Andrew, MP of Pudsey, who has been moved to the Ministry of Defence.

There is no apparent connection between Mims Davies and Wales apart from having studied Politics and International Relations at Swansea University.

Stuart Andrew’s appointed caused controversy at the time, with some arguing that despite being born on Anglesey and speaking Welsh, the role should be taken by a Welsh MP.

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorweth said the appointment of Mims Davies showed that the UK Government “really are laughing at us”.

“Don’t you think Wales needs representation by a party actually based in Wales?” he said.

Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary Alun Davies said that it "shows what Theresa May thinks of her Welsh Conservative group of MPs".