Chief whip is new transport secretary

As part of David Cameron’s cabinet reshuffle, Justine Greening has been replaced as transport secretary by former chief whip Patrick McLoughlin.

Justine Greening – who has moved to the role of secretary for international development – was appointed transport secretary in October 2011, after Philip Hammond became defence secretary.

Patrick McLoughlin was born in 1957 in Staffordshire, where he was educated at Cardinal Griffin Roman Catholic School and then Staffordshire College of Agriculture.

He worked for five years in agriculture before following his father and grandfather – both coal miners – and going to work underground at the Littleton Colliery in Cannock.

He went on to become a member of the National Union of Mineworkers and then an industrial representative for the National Coal Board’s Western Area Marketing Department.

Mr McLoughlin became involved with the Conservative Party in 1977, becoming a member of several national committees and serving as vice-chairman of the National Young Conservatives.

He served on Staffordshire County Council and Cannock Chase District Council before eventually becoming an MP in 1986. In June 2005 Mr McLoughlin was appointed to the Privy Council and in May 2010 he became parlaimentray secretary to the Treasury and chief whip.