Simon Baynes

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 was privately educated at both Belhaven Hill Preparatory School and Shrewsbury School, before studying at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a BA in History. Whilst at the university, he was a choral exhibitioner and won the Dunster History Essay Prize. He was also President of the Cambridge Union. In 1982, he was Chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association.

Baynes was a partner at Cazenove & Co., and latterly a managing director of JPMorgan Cazenove, from 1982 to 2006. From 2007 to 2011, he was the owner and bookseller of Simon Baynes - Books and Music in Shrewsbury.

He has been a trustee (and was the founder) of Concertina - Music for the Elderly, which he formed in 1998 with his wife. It provides live music in care homes for the elderly. His mother-in-law suffered from dementia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18928410.vital-see-rehabilitation-strategy-place-living-dementia/|title="It's vital we see a rehabilitation strategy in place for those living with dementia"|website=The Leader|date=9 December 2020 }} 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.

From 2005 to 2012, Baynes was Chairman of North Powys Youth Music. He has also been Chairman of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust (2016–19) and the Holroyd Community Theatre (2018–19). He was the founder and Chairman of the Montgomeryshire Literary Festival (2018–19). From 2017 to 2019, he was a governor at Llanfyllin High School.

He stood as the Welsh Conservative candidate in Montgomeryshire in 2005, finishing second behind incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Öpik.{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/410.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Election 2005 {{!}} Results {{!}} Montgomeryshire|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2020-04-07}} He unsuccessfully sought the Conservative nomination for the seat of South Staffordshire in 2010,{{Cite web|url=https://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2010/01/final-six-for-staffordshire-south.html|title=Final six for Staffordshire South|work=conservativehome.com|accessdate=17 January 2020}} losing out to future cabinet minister Gavin Williamson. He then contested Dwyfor Meirionnydd at the 2010 general election,{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/w21.stm|title=BBC News {{!}} Election 2010 {{!}} Constituency {{!}} Dwyfor Meirionnydd|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2020-04-07}} and the same seat in the 2011 National Assembly for Wales Election, both times without success.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/constituency/html/26684.stm|title=BBC News - Election 2011 - Wales - Dwyfor Meirionnydd|website=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-07}}

Baynes was a Conservative member of Powys County Council from 2008 to 2012, and joint leader of the Conservative group. The following year, he joined Llanfyllin Town Council, where he remained a member until 2019. He served as the mayor of the eponymous Montgomeryshire town of Llanfyllin from 2018 to 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://llanfyllin.org/organisations/llanfyllin-town-council/llanfyllin-town-councillors/|title=Llanfyllin Town Councillors {{!}} Llanfyllin Town Website|access-date=16 December 2019}}

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/W07000062|title=Clwyd South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-04-07|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=https://moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=458&RPID=9684732&LLL=0|title=Denbighshire County Council|last=Council|first=Denbighshire County|date=2013-04-01|website=moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk|access-date=2020-04-07}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/W07000062|title=Clwyd South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019|work=bbc.com|accessdate=17 January 2020}} He defeated the incumbent Labour MP Susan Elan Jones.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/18100101.simon-baynes-emerged-winner-majority-1-239-votes-labours-susan-elan-jones/|title=Conservatives topple Labour in Clwyd South in shock result|website=Denbighshire Free Press|date=13 December 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50776783|title=General Election 2019: The winners and the losers|date=2019-12-15|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-04-07|language=en-GB}}

On 2 March 2020, Baynes became a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4800/career|title=Parliamentary career for Simon Baynes - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament|website=members.parliament.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}

He endorsed Priti Patel in the July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, but she did not end up standing.{{Cite web |title='I urge her to stand': Simon Baynes backs Priti Patel for next Tory leader |url=https://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/20273133.clywd-souths-simon-baynes-backs-priti-patel-tory-leader/ |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=Border Counties Advertiser |date=12 July 2022 |language=en}} He then supported Rishi Sunak.{{cite web |last1=House |first1=Coffee |title=Full list: Tory endorsements for next leader |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/full-list-tory-endorsements-for-next-leader |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708122203/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/full-list-tory-endorsements-for-next-leader |archive-date=8 July 2022 |access-date=7 July 2022 |publisher=The Spectator |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Dominic |date=2023-07-22 |title=North Shropshire Conservatives choose their candidate for the General Election |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/oswestry/2023/07/22/north-shropshire-conservatives-choose-their-candidate-for-the-general-election/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=www.shropshirestar.com |language=en}} He lost to the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan by over 30% (15,000 votes).{{Cite news |title=North Shropshire - UK General election 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001398 |access-date=2024-07-20 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Baynes married his wife Margaret (known as Maggie), an architect, in 1992. They have two daughters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrexham.com/columns/a-view-from-clwyd-souths-member-of-parliament-2-186335.html|title=A view from Clwyd South's Member of Parliament|website=Wrexham.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.quillerpublishing.com/quiller-author/simon-baynes|title=Simon Baynes}}

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

• (with Sir John Baynes, G. V. Westropp) Lake Vyrnwy: The Story of a Sporting Hotel. United Kingdom, Quiller Publishing, Limited, 2019. {{ISBN|9781846892981|1846892988}}.
• The Forgotten Country House: The Rise and Fall of Roundway Park. United Kingdom, Quiller Press, Limited, 2019. {{ISBN|9781846893063|1846893062}}.

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2024: North Shropshire{{cite web |title=UK parliamentary election - 4 July 2024 |url=https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/elections-and-electoral-registration/election-results/uk-parliamentary-election-4-july-2024/ |website=Shropshire Council |access-date=7 July 2024}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate=Helen Morgan

|votes=26,214

|percentage=52.9

|change=+42.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party=Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate=Simon Baynes

|votes=10,903

|percentage=22.0

|change=-39.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party=Reform UK

|candidate=Mark Whittle

|votes=7,687

|percentage=15.5

|change=+15.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party=Labour Party (UK)

|candidate=Natalie Rowley

|votes=3,423

|percentage=6.9

|change=-15.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party=Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate=Craig Emery

|votes=1,234

|percentage=2.5

|change=-0.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party=Independent politician

|candidate=Samuel Cladingbowl

|votes=133

|percentage=0.3

|change=+0.3

}}

{{Election box majority|votes=15,311|percentage=30.9|change=-9.7}}

{{Election box turnout|votes=49,594|percentage=64.1|change=-3.8}}

{{Election box registered electors|reg. electors=77,573}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +41.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2019: Clwyd South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link||party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Simon Baynes|votes=16,222|percentage=44.7|change=+5.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Susan Elan Jones|votes=14,983|percentage=41.3|change=-9.4|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Plaid Cymru|candidate=Christopher Allen|votes=2,137|percentage=5.9|change=-0.2|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Calum Davies|votes=1,496|percentage=4.1|change=+2.2|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Brexit Party|candidate=Jamie Adams|votes=1,468|percentage=4.0|change=N/A|}}

{{Election box rejected|votes=110|percentage=|change=}}

{{Election box majority|votes=1,239|percentage=3.4|change=N/A}}

{{Election box turnout|votes=36,306|percentage=67.3|change=-2.4}}

{{Election box registered electors||reg. electors=53,919}}

{{Election box gain with party link|winner=Conservative Party (UK)|loser=Labour Party (UK)|swing=7.5}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2017: Clwyd South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link||party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Susan Elan Jones|votes=19,002|percentage=50.7|change=+13.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Simon Baynes|votes=14,646|percentage=39.1|change=+8.7}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Plaid Cymru|candidate=Christopher Allen|votes=2,292|percentage=6.1|change=-4.2|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=UK Independence Party|candidate=Jeanette Bassford-Barton|votes=802|percentage=2.1|change=-13.5|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Bruce Roberts|votes=731|percentage=2.0|change=-1.8|}}

{{Election box rejected|votes=56|percentage=|change=}}

{{Election box majority|votes=4,356|percentage=11.6|change=+4.7}}

{{Election box turnout|votes=37,473|percentage=68.9|change=+5.1}}

{{Election box registered electors||reg. electors=54,266}}

{{Election box hold with party link||winner=Labour Party (UK)|swing=+2.4}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin||title=Welsh Assembly Election 2016: Clwyd South}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Welsh Labour|candidate=Ken Skates|votes=7,862|percentage=35.5|change=-6.9|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Welsh Conservative Party|candidate=Simon Baynes|votes=4,846|percentage=21.9|change=-7.3|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Plaid Cymru|candidate=Mabon ap Gwynfor|votes=3,861|percentage=17.4|change=-1.1|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=UK Independence Party|candidate=Mandy Jones|votes=2,827|percentage=12.8|change=+12.8|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Welsh Liberal Democrats|candidate=Aled Roberts|votes=2,289|percentage=10.3|change=+0.5|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Wales Green Party|candidate=Duncan Rees|votes=474|percentage=2.1|change=+2.1|}}

{{Election box majority||votes=3,016|percentage=13.6|change=+0.3}}

{{Election box turnout||votes=22,159|percentage=40.9|change=+4.0}}

{{Election box hold with party link|winner=Welsh Labour|swing=+0.2}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Welsh Assembly Election 2011: Dwyfor Meirionnydd}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Plaid Cymru|candidate=Dafydd Elis-Thomas|votes=9,656|percentage=46.6|change={{decrease}} 13.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Welsh Conservative Party|candidate=Simon Baynes|votes=4,239|percentage=20.4|change={{increase}} 0.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Llais Gwynedd|candidate=Louise Hughes|votes=3,225|percentage=15.5|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Welsh Labour Party|candidate=Martyn Singleton|votes=2,623|percentage=12.6|change={{increase}} 0.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Welsh Liberal Democrats|candidate=Stephen Churchman|votes=1,000|percentage=4.8|change={{decrease}} 3.5}}

{{Election box majority|votes=5,417|percentage=26.1|change={{decrease}} 14.0}}

{{Election box turnout|votes=20,743|percentage=46.3|change={{decrease}} 1.1}}

{{Election box hold with party link|winner=Plaid Cymru|swing={{decrease}} 7.0}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2010: Dwyfor Meirionnydd}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link||party=Plaid Cymru|candidate=Elfyn Llwyd|votes=12,814|percentage=44.3|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Simon Baynes|votes=6,447|percentage=22.3|change=N/A|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Alwyn Humphreys|votes=4,021|percentage=13.9|change=N/A|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Stephen Churchman|votes=3,538|percentage=12.2|change=N/A|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (politician)|candidate=Louise Hughes|votes=1,310|percentage=4.5|change=N/A|}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=UK Independence Party|candidate=Frank Wykes|votes=776|percentage=2.7|change=N/A|}}

{{Election box majority||votes=6,367|percentage=22.0|change=N/A}}

{{Election box turnout||votes=28,906|percentage=63.7|change=N/A}}

{{Election box registered electors||reg. electors=45,354}}

{{Election box new seat win||winner=Plaid Cymru}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2005: Montgomeryshire}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Lembit Öpik|votes=15,419|percentage=51.2|change=+1.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Simon Baynes|votes=8,246|percentage=27.4|change=−0.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=David Tinline|votes=3,454|percentage=11.5|change=−0.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Plaid Cymru|candidate=Ellen ap Gwynn|votes=2,078|percentage=6.9|change=+0.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=UK Independence Party|candidate=Clive Easton|votes=900|percentage=3.0|change=+0.3}}

{{Election box majority|votes=7,173|percentage=23.8|change=+2.3}}

{{Election box turnout|votes=30,097|percentage=64.4|change=−1.1}}

{{Election box registered electors||reg. electors=46,766}}

{{Election box hold with party link|winner=Liberal Democrats (UK)|swing=+1.2}}

{{Election box end}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{UK MP links |parliament=4800 |publicwhip=Simon_Baynes |theywork=simon_baynes}}

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{{s-par|uk}}

{{s-bef|before=Susan Elan Jones}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Clwyd South|years=2019–2024}}

{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}

{{s-end}}

{{Wales Conservative Party MPs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baynes, Simon}}

Category:1960 births

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Belhaven Hill School

Category:People educated at Shrewsbury School

Category:Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge

Category:UK MPs 2019–2024

Category:People from Clwyd

Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies

Category:Younger sons of baronets