Heidi Alexander has been named as the new Transport Secretary, following the resignation of Louise Haigh.
Haigh stepped down on Thursday evening after reports emerged of a criminal conviction from 2014, before she was an MP, when she incorrectly told police that a work mobile phone had been stolen during a mugging.
Alexander said it was an "incredible honour" to be offered the role, and paid tribute to the "formidable" Haigh.
She added: "I will do all I can to ensure we have a transport system that drives economic growth, connects our communities and protects the environment. A mammoth task ahead."
Alexander has been a justice minister since Labour’s general election win in July.
The Swindon South MP represented Lewisham East from 2010-2018, when she left Parliament to become Sadiq Khan’s Deputy Mayor for Transport in London.
Her appointment has been welcomed by Paul Tuohy, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, who said: "With her wealth of experience as Deputy Mayor of London for transport, she will be well-placed to take forward the vital reforms that have already been set in motion to make transport work for all people and all places. We look forward to working with her to help improve transport across the country."
Wishing her well, Railway Industry Association's Chief Executive, Darran Caplan, added: “Ms Alexander has a number of key priorities in her in-tray such as delivering the Government’s major rail restructuring plans, and setting out a roadmap for rail investment and enhancement projects, as well as a strategy for rolling stock procurement and refurbishment to support business confidence. She also needs to manage plans to take HS2 to Euston including the redevelopment of the station.
“The new Secretary of State’s experience in devolved Government will be an asset in working with Metro Mayors to increase north-south rail capacity in the future which can support the strong passenger and freight growth levels forecast in the decades ahead.
“Separately, RIA would like to thank Louise Haigh for all her work as Transport Secretary. We wish her well too.”
She becomes Transport Secretary the day after the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill received Royal Assent, officially giving the government power to transfer passenger train operations – excluding open access operators – to the publicly run DfT OLR Holdings Limited (DOHL).
Haigh’s final major act as Transport Secretary was to announce the beginning of an integrated National Transport Strategy in Leeds.
On Thursday she outlined how the strategy would provide a “clear vision” for local authorities, hoping that the inspiration she had taken from Dijon in France would lead to a transformation in local transport networks.
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