'Move fast and fix things': DfT has new motto and new ministerial team

10/07/2024 | DOMINIC BROWNE

Transport secretary Louise Haigh MP has set out a new motto for the Department for Transport (DfT) and her ministerial team - 'move fast and fix things'.

Ms Haigh assembled a strong group of ministers with undoubted transport experience, including the former chair of Network Rail and commissioner of Transport for London (TfL), Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond.

He has been made a minister of state and as rail minister will be tasked with delivering on Labour’s manifesto pledge of bringing the railways under greater central and public control.

Although his industry experience is largely focused on rail, he has good experience and knowledge of transport’s ability to unlock growth and housing from his time at TfL.

Ms Haigh said on X: ‘Absolutely delighted Lord Hendy is joining my team. He brings a wealth of industry experience to this role. Looking forward to working with him to deliver the biggest overhaul to public transport in a generation!’

Left to right: Ms Greenwood, Mr Lightwood, Ms Haigh, Lord Hendy, Mr Kane

Lilian Greenwood MP has been appointed as a parliamentary under-secretary of state, with the title future of roads minister

She will be a popular choice for many in the sector, having served as the Labour MP for Nottingham South since May 2010, chaired the Transport Select Committee, and served as both shadow minister and shadow for transport secretary.

She is only too familiar with the complexity and vagaries of local roads funding, having led an inquiry on the subject for the select committee. Delivering on Labour’s promises of establishing a more stable, multi-year basis for local transport funding will be high on the department’s list of priorities.

Ms Haigh said: ‘Lilian brings significant experience from her time as an MP and work on the Transport Select Committee. I’m looking forward to working with her to deliver for passengers and improve transport in every corner of the country.’

Simon Lightwood MP was also appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state and local transport minister.

He has been an MP since June 2022 and was shadow transport minister from September that year. He has also done committee work on the Automated Vehicle Act.

Ms Haigh said: ‘Delighted to welcome @simonlightwood to the Transport team. He brings a wealth of experience and will make an excellent Under-Secretary of State.’

Mike Kane MP is the third parliamentary under-secretary of state and aviation, maritime and security minister. He is the Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East and has been an MP since February 2014. He has also served as shadow transport minister since 2020.

Ms Haigh added: ‘Thrilled to welcome @MikeKaneMP to the Transport team, who has years of experience working on aviation and maritime.’

In a surprise move, there appears to be no place in the team for the former shadow roads minister Bill Esterson. Despite his hard campaigning and conspicuous efforts to meet the sector, including speaking at Traffex on the day the election was announced, he seems to have been overlooked once Labour got past the finish line.

In her first speech to the department, Ms Haigh set out a new motto for the department: ‘move fast and fix things’ in a bid to seize a ‘once in a generation opportunity to get Britain moving again’.

Outlining her priorities, she said ‘first and foremost’ she will focus on reforming the railways, then giving local leaders the ‘tools needed to deliver better bus services and grow patronage’ – likely to mean bus franchising expansion.

She also said ‘we desperately needed new transport infrastructure to better connect under-served parts of this country’.

‘Greening’ transport will be a critical thread running through her agenda, Ms Haigh said, and concluded with her desire to roll-out the kind of integrated multi-modal transport enjoyed by London, long promised to the regions but seldom delivered.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

UGO bus Coordinator

£26357.00 - £31008.00 per annum + pension
UGO bus CoordinatorPermanent, Full Time£26,357 to £31,008 per annumLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
This role is fundamental to the success of the Highways Service. Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Electrical Engineer

Grade 9 £34,314 to £37,938 - Grade 10 £37,035 to £40,476 - Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 - Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 p.a.
The Construction Consultancy Services (CCS) team provide client-side construction consultancy services across a range of professional disciplines to d Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW