Aviation and maritime minister Robert Courts said he is “sad to be leaving government”, as he returns to the backbenches.
He has moved on from his role at the Department of Transport as part of the reshuffle of ministerial roles by the new prime minister Liz Truss.
His departure follows that of Grant Shapps, who was replaced by Anne-Marie Trevelyan as transport secretary earlier this month.
Courts, the Conservative MP for West Oxfordshire, said on Twitter: I am sad to be leaving government & to no longer have the honour of representing our country’s truly world-leading aviation & maritime sectors.
“Thank you to the talented team at @transportgovuk with whom I had the privilege of working in truly tumultuous, tough, historic times.”
I am sad to be leaving government & to no longer have the honour of representing our country’s truly world-leading aviation & maritime sectors.
Thank you to the talented team at @transportgovuk with whom I had the privilege of working in truly tumultuous, tough, historic times. pic.twitter.com/ieypcBMYar
— Robert Courts MP (@robertcourts) September 21, 2022
He also tweeted a copy of a letter, outlining the “challenging times” he and his colleagues faced, including the shut-downs of the pandemic and “avoiding significant airport disruption over the recent summer”.
Courts also wrote about “working to relaunch the multimillion-pound cruise industry” and “drafting and launching the Jet Zero Strategy”.
He added: “Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank the aviation, maritime and security sectors, for their kindness and help to me, and whose passion for their trades and contribution to our national life is the pride and credit of the nation.”
Also moving on is tourism minister Nigel Huddleston, who is heading to the Whips Office.