Simon Lightwood has been named Under-Secretary of State for Transport with responsibility for local transport by new Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He thus takes on ministerial responsibility for coach and bus and succeeds Guy Opperman in holding that brief.
The overnight appointment follows on from Louise Haigh having been named Secretary of State for Transport in the new government. Mr Lightwood is Member of Parliament for Wakefield and Rothwell.
It came as Prime Minister Keir Starmer kept with pre-election indications that most cabinet roles would be filled by those with the relevant shadow briefs, as is the case with Mr Lightwood.
In the election build-up, then shadow transport minister Ms Haigh promised Labour would “kickstart a revival of bus services across England” with an emphasis on franchising. She was also quoted by media this week as saying she was “obsessed with buses”.
Mr Lightwood has echoed those sentiments towards bus franchising, including in his keynote speech at the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s (CPT) Annual Conference in 2023.
He also attended this year’s conference, at which then local transport minister Guy Opperman’s only input was via video link. He has also been noted for his recognition of the coach sector.
Meanwhile, Lord Peter Hendy was a surprise selection as Minister of State for Rail. As Chair of Network Rail at the time of his appointment, he has a long-established connection to the bus sector.
He previously held senior roles with FirstGroup and bus operator CentreWest. Lord Hendy is also a Trustee of the London Bus Museum and a sponsor of the Women in Bus and Coach initiative. His impact is likely to go beyond rail and he has been quoted as saying that bus franchising should not be viewed as a panacea.
Also appointed last night as DfT Under-Secretary of State was Lillian Greenwood, who was shadow Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in 2015-6. She was more recently shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport. Another new transport appointment is Mike Kane, who was shadow minister for aviation and maritime.
Former health minister Helen Whately was named by Conservative leader Rishi Sunak as shadow Secretary of State for Transport.
CPT and RHA were among those making calls for quick action on behalf of the coach and bus industry following the election.
Reform of the Apprenticeship Levy, an extension of the £2 bus fare cap in England and address of the potential damage to the coach sector of the forthcoming EU Entry/Exit System are among key asks.
