Shailesh Vara

His fellow minister Conor Burns said Mr Vara was making his way here in a Tweet on Friday morning. Mr Burns said Mr Vara had "work to do to listen and work ...

The Assembly has been unable to function after the DUP withdrew from the powersharing administration in protest against the Northern Ireland protocol. After his appointment was announced on Thursday, Mr Vara said his "immediate priority" will be to restore the Assembly and the Executive as soon as possible. Mr Burns said Mr Vara had "work to do to listen and work alongside the people of Northern Ireland".

Mr Vara was appointed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday following the resignation of Brandon Lewis. Mr Lewis joined scores of Conservative ...

“I look forward to meeting with more people from across Northern Ireland in the days and weeks ahead. “As we build a fairer, more equal, and tolerant society in Northern Ireland, the Government remains committed to increasing respect, understanding and reconciliation between communities in Northern Ireland, and helping to build a better environment for future generations. He said: “It was fantastic to visit the Prince’s Trust on my first visit to Northern Ireland as Secretary of State today and learn more about how the charity supports young people by developing their confidence and the skills needed to succeed through education, training and employment.

The Conservative MP had previously served in the Northern Ireland Office under Theresa May's premiership. | UTV News.

Commons Leader Mark Spencer confirmed that three days of committee stage for the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill will begin on July 13. Mr Vara has previously served in the Northern Ireland Office. Shailesh Vara has been appointed the new Northern Ireland Secretary.

It comes after Brandon Lewis became the latest minister to resign from Boris Johnson's government early on Thursday.

Today and tomorrow I will lead for the UK Govt at the meeting of the@BICSecretariat. It is vital at this time that the job @NIOgovcontinues to be done. He is a figure of absolute disrepute. Anyone who tries to sabotage our peace agreements, a quarter century of progress and our shared future is truly no friend of ours I am committed to continuing to serve the wonderful people of Northern Ireland to the best of my ability at this tough time. “I am committed to continuing to serve the wonderful people of Northern Ireland to the best of my ability at this tough time,” he said. Mr Lewis announced his resignation early on Thursday, tweeting a copy of his resignation letter in which he told the Prime Minister that he had “given you, and those around you, the benefit of the doubt”.

Mr Lewis' resignation came before it emerged that Boris Johnson would step down as prime minister.

The other crucial matter facing the new secretary of state is the restoration of the political institutions in Northern Ireland. The key issues filling the in-tray of the new Northern Ireland secretary include the Northern Ireland Protocol legislation, a controversial bill aimed at ending Troubles legacy prosecutions and the restoration of devolution at Stormont. He said it was vital that the job at the Northern Ireland Office "continues to be done". He also warned that Northern Ireland would be subject to a "different relationship with the EU from the rest of the UK" and he added the "constitutional integrity of the UK must be respected". The protocol is part of the Brexit deal which was agreed by the prime minister in 2019 and subsequently ratified by Parliament. Speaking to MPs about the government's plan to break international law in amending the Brexit deal with the EU, he said the plan was to do so in a "very specific and limited way". Northern Ireland Office minister Conor Burns tweeted on Thursday that he would lead for the government at the meeting of the British-Irish Council on Friday. In his letter to the prime minister, Mr Lewis said a decision to leave government is "never taken lightly particularly at such a critical time for Northern Ireland". He said he had "served loyally" and defended the government "both publicly and privately". He described his return to the Northern Ireland Office as a "huge privilege". A huge privilege to return to the Northern Ireland Office as Secretary of State. Having served previously in the Department I recognise the immense contribution of Northern Ireland, and its people, to the UK and I look forward to representing those interests at the Cabinet table.— Shailesh Vara MP (@ShaileshVara) July 7, 2022 Mr Vara was previously a minister in the Northern Ireland Office for five months before quitting in protest at former prime minister Theresa May's proposed deal with the EU in November 2018.

He served in the Northern Ireland Office in 2018, but resigned after ten months in response to the UK's proposed Brexit withdrawal agreement.

“It is vital at this time that the job @NIOgov continues to be done. It is clear that our Party, parliamentary colleagues, volunteers and the whole country, deserve better,” he said. “We are, however, now past the point of no return. McCord said: “He (Lewis) has betrayed the victims of the Troubles with the Legacy Bill that gives an amnesty to murderers. “The political stability of the North cannot be a hostage to the Tory-in fighting, Westminster chaos and continued DUP disruption.” Lewis announced his resignation early this morning, tweeting a copy of his resignation letter in which he told the Prime Minister that he had “given you, and those around you, the benefit of the doubt”.

Shailesh Vara - who has served North West Cambridgeshire as an MP since 2005 - has now been assigned to the post. Mr Lewis was among previously-loyal cabinet ...

"He is a man of conviction with a very sharp intellect. In 2016, he confirmed his support for Michael Gove in the Conservative Party's leadership contest. Mr Vara is a Ugandan-British politician who has been a Conservative MP for the North West Cambridgeshire constituency since 2005.

He will be well-known on the local political scene, having served as a Northern Ireland Minister under a former Secretary of State, Karen Bradley,. The MP for ...

He is also a lead investor, alongside retired footballer Ian Rush in the consortium which acquired North Belfast football club Crusaders FC. He delivered Brexit and oversaw the vaccine roll-out and financial assistance plan during the Covid pandemic. He is also qualified as a solicitor and aside from his spell in the Northern Ireland Office, has also previously served as Vice-Chair of the Conservative Party.

After 59 Members of the British Parliament resign, the Tory Party leader, Boris Johnson has announced he will step down from his position of Prime Minister.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has overall responsibility advances of UK government interests in Northern Ireland and represents Northern Ireland's interests in the Cabinet. I have gone out and defended this government both publicly and privately. We are, however, now past the point of no return.

Mr Lewis was among previously-loyal cabinet ministers who told the prime minister on Wednesday that he needed to step down from office due to a loss in support.

In his letter to the prime minister, Mr Lewis said a decision to leave government is "never taken lightly particularly at such a critical time for Northern Ireland". A decent and responsible Government relies on honesty, integrity and mutual respect - it is a matter of profound personal regret that I must leave Government as I no longer believe those values are being upheld.— Brandon Lewis (@BrandonLewis) As the crisis for Boris Johnson was beginning on Tuesday, I was told by a source: "If he decides to soldier on, Brandon Lewis will be his trusted lieutenant." Mr Lewis tweeted on Thursday that a "decent and responsible" government relies on "honesty, integrity and mutual respect". Mr Lewis was among previously-loyal cabinet ministers who told the prime minister on Wednesday that he needed to step down from office due to a loss in support. Brandon Lewis has resigned as Northern Ireland secretary as the crisis over Boris Johnson's leadership grows.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said his party will not nominate ministers until the UK government takes action against the Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Vara was ...

“They agreed that Northern Ireland needs a Stormont government up and running as soon as possible. Mr McCord said: “He (Mr Lewis) has betrayed the victims of the Troubles with the Legacy Bill that gives an amnesty to murderers. “I am committed to continuing to serve the wonderful people of Northern Ireland to the best of my ability at this tough time,” he said. Mr Lewis announced his resignation early on Thursday, tweeting a copy of his resignation letter in which he told the Prime Minister that he had “given you, and those around you, the benefit of the doubt”. “Having served previously in the department I recognise the immense contribution of Northern Ireland, and its people, to the UK and I look forward to representing those interests at the Cabinet table,” he said. Earlier Mr Vara said it was a “huge privilege to return to the Northern Ireland Office as Secretary of State”.