Foreign Secretary Simon Coveney said on social media that he had known Mr Heaton-Harris since they were both members of the European Parliament and “look forward to working closely with him over the coming months”. “First job – an operational NI executive,” said Mr Coveney. [ New British prime minister Liz Truss makes sweeping changes to government ] Heaton-Harris was also congratulated by DUP leader Geoffrey Donaldson, who said his party had “requested an urgent meeting with the new Secretary of State to press the priorities for Northern Ireland”. Donaldson called for action on the Northern Ireland Protocol and the cost of living crisis, saying the DUP needed to see the new foreign secretary “work to replace the Protocol with arrangements that unionists can support”. The MP for Daventry in Northamptonshire, is a former chair of the European Research Group (ERG) of pro-Brexit MPs and last year was appointed Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, where he was responsible for assisting then Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. with post-Brexit trade negotiations. He previously held posts in the UK government’s Brexit department and describes himself on his website as a “hard Eurosceptic”. The new Northern Secretary is also a qualified football referee and before entering politics ran his family’s fruit and vegetable wholesale business. The appointment of a staunch Brexiteer to Northern Ireland’s short-lived pension will be seen as a sign by Ms Truss that there will be no easing of her stance on the Northern Ireland protocol. Mr Heaton-Harris replaces Shailesh Vara, who after just 62 days in the role becomes Northern Ireland’s shortest-serving foreign secretary. Mr Vara said on social media that it was a “great privilege and honour” to serve as Northern Secretary and to work with some “excellent people”. “My best wishes to the new prime minister and I look forward to supporting the government from the back tables,” he said. [ Liz Truss’s tired market mantras mask plans for a remarkable state intervention ] Northern Ireland Office MP Conor Burns, who had been suggested as a possible candidate for the post, also tweeted his congratulations to the new minister. “Chris is a good person and friend,” he said. “I look forward to supporting him in the chamber.” There were reports that the Northern brief proved difficult to fill, with Penny Mordaunt and Sajid Javid said to have turned down the role. Brandon Lewis, who was Northern Secretary from 2020 until he resigned in July – and who introduced the controversial bill which aims to end all prosecutions, civil cases and inquiries related to the Troubles – has been appointed justice minister. Separately, Ms Truss spoke to US President Joe Biden during which they discussed Britain’s dispute with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol. “The prime minister and president discussed a range of domestic issues and agreed on the importance of protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement,” the spokesman said.
