Grant Shapps has expressed his delight after being appointed transport secretary by new prime minister Boris Johnson.
Mr Shapps, MP for Welwyn Hatfield since 2005, replaces Chris Grayling – who leaves the DfT after three years at the helm.
Mr Shapps takes up the top job at the DfT after a four-year cabinet absence – having been sacked from the position of Conservative party co-chairman and minister without portfolio at the Cabinet Office in May 2015.
Speaking on Twitter, Mr Shapps said he was ‘delighted and honoured’ to be handed the position.
Delighted and honoured to have been appointed the new Secretary of State for Transport. https://t.co/KKlhHkbImU
— Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) July 24, 2019
Farewell Chris Grayling
The arrival of Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street spelt the end for Chris Grayling at the DfT – although it is reported the he opted to step away from the forefront of British politics.
His departure brings to an end a controversial three-year stint as transport secretary.
With regard to road transport, Mr Grayling might be remembered for is his determination to make Britain a world-leader in autonomous driving technology. Back in November 2017, he revealed the DfT’s commitment to have fully self-driving vehicles on UK roads by 2021.
Mr Grayling’s final act as transport secretary was to publish the new Road Safety Action Plan – a move he described as a ‘key milestone’ in efforts to reduce road deaths and injuries.
At present, there is no suggestion that road safety minister Michael Ellis will leave the role he only assumed in May.
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