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Cheryl Gillan MP

UPDATE: Reaction coming in...

Welsh Conservative Assembly leader Nick Bourne AM said:

"I am absolutely delighted. No-one has worked harder for Wales at Westminster over recent years than Cheryl Gillan.

"I am confident that as someone born and bred in Wales Cheryl will represent Welsh interests around the cabinet table with her usual passion, commitment and determination.

"I have valued our close working relationship since her appointment to the shadow cabinet in 2005 and look forward to that continuing in the interests of Wales now that Cheryl has taken up her new role.

"I hope Cheryl's appointment will mark the start of a new, positive relationship between the UK and Assembly governments, and between the Assembly and Westminster.

"I also welcome the fact that Cheryl will be the first woman to hold the post of Secretary of State for Wales.

"This is an historic achievement for Cheryl and for the Conservative Party and one which should be widely welcomed."

Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd MP said:

"I'd like to congratulate the member for Chesham and Amersham on her appointment. Unfortunately, instating a Secretary of State from outside Wales will be widely viewed as throwback to the 1990s.

"There are many important issues that will face Ms Gillan as she enters the role. On top of her desk will be the request for a referendum from the Welsh Assembly Government on more law making powers. She has said previously that she would not stand in its way, so I look forward to a prompt call for it to be held.

"There will be some people in Wales that will under-whelmed at this appointment but I hope that Ms Gillan will make every effort to work with the Welsh Assembly Government - and also to spend time in Wales so that she is able to find out the issues affecting our country."

Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said:

"I wish Cheryl well in her job. The real test for her now is to show how committed she is to Welsh devolution. Cheryl Gillan has to stand up for the people of Wales and give us a say on how we want our devolution to proceed. An early referendum on further law making powers for Wales will be her first test."

Peter Hain, Labour's Shadow Welsh Secretary said:

"I congratulate Cheryl Gillan on her appointment, I like her as a person, and obviously I wish her well.

"However, the new Government must realise that the decision to appoint a Welsh Secretary from an English constituency will baffle and indeed anger many people in Wales. Far from representing the new politics that people want to see, this smacks of the bad old days. Between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats they have 11 MPs in Wales - are David Cameron and Nick Clegg really saying that none of them are up to the job? There is no reason why Mr Cameron's faith in Mrs Gillan could not have been rewarded by offering her another post in a cabinet sadly lacking in women.

"It would have seemed more sensible, and sensitive, to offer the job of Welsh Secretary to a Welsh MP."

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