Department for Transport (DfT) newcomer Justin Madders has been made minister for roads, with Simon Lightwood taking on responsibility for local transport following the departure of Lilian Greenwood.

Mr Madders was appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state in new PM Andy Burnham's cabinet.

He has been given responsibility for roads, including National Highways' £26bn-plus road investment strategy (RIS), and road safety, where he will oversee the delivery of the first national safety strategy in over a decade introduced by former DfT minister Ms Greenwood.

Before joining the DfT, Mr Madders was previously a minister at the Department for Business and Trade between July 2024 and September 2025. He was elected as the MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough in July 2024.

His new DfT role also includes responsibility for: automated vehicles, micromobility, motoring agencies, vehicle standards, the roughly £11bn Lower Thames Crossing scheme and AI and technology.

Former roads minister Mr Lightwood has now been made minister for local transport and sustainability - a role that became largely vacant after Ms Greenwood was moved to the Department for Work and Pensions in this month's reshuffle.

Unusually, Mr Lightwood has also been appointed as minister for equalities in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) alongside his role at the DfT.

Commenting on his updated responsibilities on LinkedIn, Mr Lightwood said: ‘I'm proud to have been re-appointed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham as a Transport Minister, a role I've been privileged to serve in since 2024 (and before that as Shadow Minister from 2022).

'I'm delighted to be continuing to work alongside our outstanding Secretary of State, Heidi Alexander MP, and brilliant colleagues Lord Peter Hendy, Keir Mather and new to the transport team Justin Madders MP. It's a fantastic team, and I'm looking forward to building on everything we've already achieved.'

With these new changes at the DfT, Mr Lightwood will now be responsible for devolution and regions, local transport, active travel and electric vehicles, decarbonisation and environment. Also involved will be accessibility, which could marry well with his responsibilities at the MHCLG.