Alun Hugh Cairns[1] (born 30 July 1970) is a Welsh Conservative politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Vale of Glamorgan from 2010 to 2024.

Shortly after being elected to the assembly he was appointed as Economic Affairs and Europe spokesperson by leader Rod Richards.

[15] Cairns was re-elected at the 2003 Welsh Assembly election and again retained in the economic development portfolio, also with responsibility for transport.

[17] He became Shadow Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning on 11 July 2007, after the One Wales coalition was formed, leaving the Welsh Conservatives as the Official Opposition.

[18][19] In September 2008, Cairns said that he asked for a National Assembly rule to be "clarified" to determine whether he could claim expenses for a second home in Cardiff.

A rule change introduced in late 2006 by the Assembly's House Committee allowed him to claim expenses related to a flat in Cardiff even though his main home was reclassified as being situated in the Vale of Glamorgan.

[33] On 15 August 2022, Cairns changed his support from Rishi Sunak to Liz Truss in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.

[43] Cairns has said he supports the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon renewable energy power plant, although he has expressed reservations in regard to the financial viability of the project, stating in 2017 that "none of us would want it to happen if it's not good value for money for the taxpayer.

[55] He resigned from the Government on 6 November 2019, after evidence emerged that he had known about his former aide Ross England's role in the "sabotaging" of a rape trial, whom he later endorsed as a candidate for the Senedd.

[60][61] He believes all of society stands to gain from gender equality because the UK economy depends on "harnessing the talent of women, capitalising on the wealth of skill they bring to our workplaces".

Cairns said "the BBC's mission statement and stated public purposes fit perfectly for it to become the trusted source of advice on how to protect children online.

"[63][64] In relation to the television licence fee, Cairns described it as "probably the UK's most regressive tax", and stressed this meant transparency was vital.

[66] In the campaign period leading up to the referendum, in a government pamphlet sent to all homes across Wales, he stated: "One thing I think we can all agree on is that Europe needs reform.

He further stated that the UK had achieved "a special status" within Europe and how the deal negotiated would allow Britain to avoid "the Euro, open borders or the prospect of ever-closer union.

[69] In March 2018 he said he was "delighted" economic predictions about Brexit had been "proven wrong", adding: "I think people should be excited about the new opportunities as we leave the European Union.

"[70] In November 2018 he endorsed Prime Minister Theresa May's negotiated agreement with the European Union on the United Kingdom's exit terms, though he said: "I don't like every element of this document because we've compromised".