A Progressive Labour Party politician is the new leader of the Immigration Board.

Scott Simmons, who was an MP in the last Parliament and is a General Election candidate for Southampton West, took up the board chairman’s post on September 16.

The announcement was published in the Government’s Official Gazette this week.

The appointment came after Renée Ming the previous chairwoman, became Minister of National Security in July.

Mr Simmons, who will face Christopher Gauntlett, of the Free Democratic Movement, and Karen Magnum, of the One Bermuda Alliance, in next week’s poll, said yesterday: “I count it a privilege to be given the opportunity to serve on the Immigration Board, which obviously will take focus this year and into next year as we deal with the pandemic.”

He added that Jason Hayward, the Minister of Labour who took over responsibility for immigration after his appointment to the Cabinet in June, wanted the board to “remain relevant”.

Brian Holdipp will continue in his role as deputy chairman.

The 11 other members of the board were unchanged from the group listed in March 2019.

A Ministry of Labour spokesman said earlier that the board was unable to meet in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic “because of lockdown, physical-distancing requirements and health and safety reasons”.

But he added that members met on July 15 and were asked to make recommendations on how to revise the 2015 work-permit policy.