Anne-Marie Trevelyan has been named transport secretary by new prime minister Liz Truss.
The international trade secretary replaces the much-maligned Grant Shapps, who was transport secretary during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and had supported Truss’ rival Rishi Sunak in the Conservative party leadership race.
Civil servants in both Trevelyan’s current department and in the Department for Transport expected her to be offered the role prior to the official announcement, according to reports on Tuesday (September 6).
Trevelyan (pictured), who is a chartered accountant by trade, was appointed international trade secretary almost a year ago.
She was first elected MP for the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency at the 2015 general election and, according to her personal website, lives in the constituency with her family.
Many in the travel industry will remember Shapps for his “what people would have called travel agents in the past” comment as he heads to the back benches.
In May 2021, Miles Morgan Travel chairman Miles Morgan questioned whether Shapps was being “deliberately thick” or “do you still not understand the travel industry?” after the comment.
Last night he tweeted how it had been “privilege” to serve as transport secretary and the role was job he loved. “Now I look forward to being a strong, independent voice on the backbenches, developing policies that will further the Conservative cause,” he wrote.
It has been a privilege to serve as Transport Secretary; a job I loved. Now I look forward to being a strong, independent voice on the backbenches, developing policies that will further the Conservative cause and the interests of my constituents in Welwyn Hatfield.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 6, 2022
Henbury Travel owner Richard Slater replied: “Thank goodness for that, the travel industry will draw the biggest sigh of relief.”
Business Travel Association chef executive Clive Wratten said: “Congratulations to Anne-Marie Trevelyan on her appointment to transport secretary. This is a vital role in the productivity, levelling-up and economy of our country. It encompasses domestic and international travel. It’s trains, planes and the move to electric cars.
“We look forward to working closely together to promote the growth of UK businesses and furthering our net zero ambitions.
“As the cabinet meets for the first time, we urge ministers to acknowledge the contribution of business travel in helping with the major concerns of our times.”
Trevelyan took to Twitter to say: “Transport is crucial to our lives – bringing people together, creating jobs and connecting the UK with the world. Looking forward to getting to work on the many challenges and opportunities transport brings.”
The future of aviation and shipping minister Robert Courts and tourism minister Nigel Huddlestone remains unclear under the Truss regime.
Nadine Dorries, who backed Truss, said she had been asked by the new prime minister to stay on as culture secretary but decided to quit front-line politics.
She is replaced by Michelle Donelan, the former higher and further education minister and MP for Chippenham.
Donelan worked in the media and entertainment industry before entering parliament, including a period as communications manager at professional wrestling firm WWE.
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