May overlooks Sri Lanka-savvy Swire

British Parliamentarian Hugo Swire, who was very active on the Sri Lankan issue, has left his job as a Government minister in the new British Prime Minister Theresa May’s reshuffle.

Swire returns to the backbenches, having served as Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 2012, according to Express and Echo reports. The former Minister for Northern Ireland in the coalition Government was a close ally of David Cameron. But he will not be serving under new Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson after the new Prime Minister finalised her cabinet and ministerial team over the weekend. Prime Minister May did not find a role for Swire, despite him backing her for the Tory leadership and having previously served as her Parliamentary Private Secretary when she was chairman of the Conservative Party.

Swire, who has represented East Devon in Parliament since 2001, tweeted: “I am retiring to the backbenches to join my friends.

“It’s been an honour and a privilege to have served as a Minister in the Government since 2010.”

(Colombo Gazzette)