Nick Hurd (1981, Literae Humaniores) appointed Minster of State for Northern Ireland

Nick Hurd MP (credit DFID) and Matt Hancock MP (credit TechCrunch)

Congratulations to Nick Hurd MP (1981, Literae Humaniores), who has been made Minster of State for Northern Ireland by new Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Hurd remains Minister for London, a post he has held since 14 November 2018, and will now assist with matters in Northern Ireland as well. The Northern Ireland Office is responsible for overseeing the Northern Ireland devolution settlement and representing Northern Ireland interests at UK government level and UK government interests in Northern Ireland. The Minister of State reports to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Responsibilities include ensuring a smooth transition in the island of Ireland as the UK leaves the European Union, managing security-related issues and casework, and acting as parliamentary liaison with Northern Ireland MPs, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, and other interested parliamentarians.

Following the announcement of his appointment, Mr Hurd wrote on Twitter: “Pleased to be joining [Secretary of State for Northern Ireland] Julian Smith and team @NIOgov at this critical, complex and highly sensitive time”.

We would also like to congratulate Matt Hancock MP (1996, PPE), who remains in the post of Health and Social Care Secretary in Mr Johnson’s Cabinet. Speaking after his reappointment, Mr Hancock said: “I am delighted to be back as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, responsible for the NHS, which I love, and with a clear and determined commitment from the new Prime Minister to solve the crisis in social care once and for all.”