About Simon
Simon Hart has been a government minister in three different Departments under two very different Prime Ministers - as Boris’ Secretary of State for Wales and Rishi’s Government Chief Whip. As well as witnessing government in key moments including Covid, the Ukraine conflict, the rise and fall of Johnson, Truss and Sunak, not to mention volatile economic headwinds, his time as Chief Whip provided a rare insight into how Government works, fails to work and how it reacts to a relentless stream of unforeseeable national and international events. Added to this is the Chief Whip’s primary role of getting the government’s business through both Houses and the obstacles that process has to overcome.
Simon was responsible for numerous issues rarely seen by the public, including major Government infrastructure projects, handling the relationship between UK Government and the devolved nations and the more conspicuous challenge of delivering Government business – and discipline – for PM Rishi Sunak. As such he is often described as more of a diplomat than a traditional minister, required to work patiently to bring together often ideologically opposed participants behind a project or policy. Implementation, based on the careful building of consensus, handled with sensitivity and respect, has been his hallmark.
During this time he was frequently called upon to hold the Government line in the media, appearing on Today, Question Time, Any Questions, Newsnight, and Sky News and dealing with channels where he dealt with the relentless analysis of Partygate, the announcement of the controversial Rwanda policy and of course the resignation of Boris Johnson.
This varied portfolio has resulted in Simon’s particular interests in effective political leadership, managing crises at the highest level and achieving consensus. In reality this covered everything from allegations and incidents involving individual MP’s or staff members, rebellions, defections, the progress or otherwise of Government policy and of course appointments and sackings (reshuffles). Each came with their own set of dilemmas and could substantially impact the reputation of the Government and Prime Minister He also has a particular interest in the identification, recruitment and appointment of new candidates and the ups (and downs) of the regulatory regimes in Parliament.
His critically-acclaimed, Sunday Times-bestselling book Ungovernable was a candid look at the state of politics today and the challenges facing any Party in Government. It poses the question as to why his Government went from unassailable in December 2019 (and three PM’s later) to unelectable in 2024. Using contemporaneous diary entries over this period he explores why it is that discipline broke down, what triggered the various defections and leadership challenges he contended with, the sex scandals, drug use, ambitions and disappointments that made Rishi Sunak’s task of re-establishing a brand for integrity and competence almost impossible – a lesson which is relevant to every company, institution and charity in the land.
At a local level he has taken an increasing interest in what issues really change voters’ minds, the impact of social media on politics and the intimidation of those in public life.
Simon took the seat of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire from Labour in 2010, making him the first Conservative to represent Carmarthen. He served on four different select committees (Constitutional Reform, DEFRA, DCMS and Welsh Affairs) and joined Margaret Beckett (Lab) and Andrew Stunnel (Lib Dem) as the political members of the Committee for Standards in Public Life. Before entering politics Simon was Chief Executive (and later Chair) of the Countryside Alliance, then the largest membership lobby group in the UK dealing with often controversial rural issues and intractable politics.