Following the UK’s recent general election, Louise Haigh has been appointed the new Transport Secretary.
With this appointment, Haigh is promising to “deliver the biggest overhaul to transport in a generation.”
To do so, Haigh has set out five key priorities to efficiently address the nation’s current transport issues:
- Improving performance on the railways and driving forward rail reform
- Improving bus services and growing usage across the country
- Transforming infrastructure to work for the whole country, promoting social mobility and tackling regional inequality
- Delivering greener transport
- Better integrating transport networks
In her address to staff, Haigh noted that the department would “focus relentlessly” on improving performance on the railways and would introduce “much-needed rail reform.”
“It will take all our effort but the new motto of our department – our purpose – is simple: move fast and fix things.
“Our department is so clearly central to achieving the missions for government that the Prime Minister has committed us to. Growth, net zero, opportunity, women and girls’ safety, health – none of these can be realised without transport as a key enabler.”
Haigh’s first official visit later this week will focus on plans to deliver better buses across the country, beginning a round of engagement with Mayors and devolved leaders.
In addition, the UK’s new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has appointed new ministers at the Department for Transport (DfT) including Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood MP, Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood MP, and Aviation, Maritime, and Security Minister Mike Kane MP.
