Simon Baynes

Simon Robert Maurice Baynes (born 21 April 1960) is a British Conservative former politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Clwyd South from 2019 to 2024. He served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration from July to September 2022. Baynes worked in finance for J.P. Morgan Cazenove from 1982 to 2006, before running a small bookshop in Shrewsbury.

Early life and education Baynes was born in Lesbury, Northumberland, the son of Sir John Christopher Malcolm Baynes, 7th Baronet and Shirley Maxwell Baynes (née Dodds). He grew up in Montgomeryshire, where his father ran the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel. He and his father have since co-authored a book on the hotel. 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 Workhouse (2005–12), Mid Wales Opera (2012–19), Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (2017–19) and Friends of St Myllin's Church (2018–19), the latter of which he is a patron of. He unsuccessfully sought the Conservative nomination for the seat of South Staffordshire in 2010, losing out to future cabinet minister Gavin Williamson. He then contested Dwyfor Meirionnydd at the 2010 general election, and the same seat in the 2011 National Assembly for Wales Election, both times without success.

Baynes was a Conservative member of Powys County Council from 2008 to 2012, and joint leader of the Conservative group.

He has contested elections in Clwyd South on three occasions. He first contested Clwyd South in the 2016 Welsh Assembly election. In 2017 he contested the marginal Westminster seat. On all three occasions he finished second. He was elected to Parliament for Clwyd South at the 2019 general election, to serve in the 58th Parliament. He defeated the incumbent Labour MP Susan Elan Jones.

On 2 March 2020, Baynes became a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.

He endorsed Priti Patel in the July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, but she did not end up standing. He then supported Rishi Sunak.

Clwyd South was abolished at the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, therefore Baynes was selected to fight the neighbouring Liberal Democrat held English seat of North Shropshire for the Conservatives in the 2024 general election. He lost to the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan by over 30% (15,000 votes).

Personal life Baynes married his wife Margaret (known as Maggie), an architect, in 1992.

He lists his recreations as "music (including playing the organ for church services), theatre, concerts, gardening, heritage".

2019 UK general election

2017 UK general election

2016 Welsh Assembly election

2011 Welsh Assembly election

2010 UK general election

2005 UK general election