The new Labour government has confirmed former union shop steward Louise Haigh as transport secretary.
She was previously shadow transport secretary for Labour in opposition since November 2021.
Haigh had formerly been shadow Northern Ireland secretary and shadow policing minister, drawing on her experience as a special constable.
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She was first elected an MP for Sheffield Healey in 2015 after serving as a shop steward for the Unite union.
Haigh last year announced Labour’s commitment to bring railways into public ownership and to allow local areas to establish their own municipal bus companies.
Her biography says she has been a vocal advocate for the rights of workers, most recently by “firmly holding the [former] government to account for their handling of the rail workers’ industrial dispute and leading the fight to protect the rights of P&O [Ferries] workers following their illegal firing”.
Posting on X after her appointment, she said: “A whirlwind first 48 hours as transport secretary.
“Transport is at the heart of our mission-driven government.
“We all transform infrastructure and deliver the most radical overhaul of public transport in a generation.”
Junior ministers with responsibility for aviation and shipping at the Department for Transport have yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, the role of business secretary has been taken by Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde since May 2010.
Wigan MP and former shadow minister for international development, Lisa Nandy, has been handed the role of secretary for culture, media and sport.