Simon Hart
A Welsh Conservative stalwart who served as both Secretary of State for Wales and the government's Chief Whip, managing party discipline.
Born 1963 (age 63)·British politician·Birthday: August 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
Simon Hart’s political career is rooted in the rural landscapes of Wales and the intricate machinery of Westminster. Before entering Parliament, he was the Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, a role that honed his skills as a campaigner and advocate for rural issues. Elected in 2010 to represent Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, he brought a practical, locally-focused perspective to the Conservative benches. His rise within government was steady, culminating in his appointment as Secretary of State for Wales in 2019, where he navigated the complex post-Brexit relationship between Cardiff and London. His most demanding role came as Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury from 2022 to 2024, the party's chief enforcer responsible for maintaining discipline and marshaling votes during a period of significant political turbulence. After leaving the Commons in 2024, he was elevated to the House of Lords, continuing his service from the red benches.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Simon was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Simon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Simon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Secretary of State for Wales from 2019 to 2022, representing Welsh interests in the UK Cabinet.
- Held the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) from 2022 to 2024.
- Elected as the Conservative MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire in 2010, holding the seat for 14 years.
- Was appointed a life peer as Baron Hart of Tenby in 2024, entering the House of Lords.
Did You Know?
Prior to politics, he was a chartered surveyor and land agent.
He served as the Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, a group advocating for rural and field sports interests.
He is a former army reservist, having served with the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers.
His peerage title, 'of Tenby', references the coastal town in his former Pembrokeshire constituency.
“The countryside isn't just a view; it's a working community.”
