Heidi Alexander retains transport secretary role in new PM’s cabinet

Heidi Alexander has retained her position as transport secretary in the new cabinet under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Her re-appointment brings continuity to the Department for Transport in the role she has held since November 2024.

It suggests that junior DfT ministerial roles, including aviation, maritime and decarbonisation minister Keir Mather may stay in place.

Alexander, MP for Swindon South, served as a justice minister before taking on the transport brief.

The former Lewisham MP was previously in charge of transport in London, having left parliament in 2018 to become deputy mayor of London for transport.

She helped to bring the Elizabeth line into service and of kept the city’s transport network running during the pandemic.

Alexander last week claimed a “productive” meeting with European transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas as she raised concerns over the EU Entry/Exit system (EES).

They agreed “to work together constructively to ensure travel across the border is as seamless as possible in the summer and through the autumn,” according to the DfT.  

The government also announced £20 million of funding to increase the number of booths for passport checks at the Port of Dover help increase capacity for processing vehicles, reduce wait times and ease congestion “in future years”.

Lisa Nandy also remains as digital, culture, media and sport secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Her reports include sport, tourism, civil society and youth minister Stephanie Peacock.

However, it remains to be seen if changes are made within the ranks of both departments which have a direct influence on the travel industry.