Minister for Transport, and Ministers of State, at the Department for Transport

[whole diary]

[chuffed]

The new under secretary Andrew Jones worked in sales and marketing for Bettys and Taylors in Harrogate before becoming an MP^▸ (Member of Parliament). Can we expect luxury cream teas and cakes to be served at Knaresborough whilst hurtling through on the new EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) that are replacing the nodding donkeys from Leeds to York ? ( Poppleton if travelling from Leeds!)

[Adelante_CCT]

Chris Grayling appointed new Transport Secretary under Theresa May's reshuffle.

[grahame]

Chris Grayling appointed new Transport Secretary under Theresa May's reshuffle.

Chris Grayling is a former shadow transport minister, so comes with some knowledge of the brief.



Pictured extreme left here on a visit to Wiltshire, with Michael Ancram (now retired from The Commons; at the time MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) for Devizes, which is now (redrawn) Claire Perry's seat. And with a couple of local people who were campaigners at the time.

[ray951]

Chris Grayling is a former shadow transport minister, so comes with some knowledge of the brief.

But his time at the MOJ was a disaster nearly all his decisions were later reversed by Gove.
Personally I wouldn't have him anywhere near any Govt. Dept. ,or business for that matter, but lets hope I am mistaken.

[Tim]

What worries me more is that Theresa May wrote "F. Off" on her papers next to Boris's name and a civil servant misunderstood her meaning. 

[grahame]

But his time at the MOJ was a disaster nearly all his decisions were later reversed by Gove.

I wouldn't know how to declare something a "disaster", but I'm afraid I don't have a great deal of respect for Mr Gove.   Could it perhaps be that he (Mr Gove) was looking to put his political mark on the ministry rather than because further change was actually desirable?

[bobm]

At least Mrs May has some railway "form"



Seen here in February 2014 at the launch of the new 20:18 stopping service from London Paddington to Reading, which passes through her constituency.

[ray951]

But his time at the MOJ was a disaster nearly all his decisions were later reversed by Gove.

I wouldn't know how to declare something a "disaster", but I'm afraid I don't have a great deal of respect for Mr Gove.   Could it perhaps be that he (Mr Gove) was looking to put his political mark on the ministry rather than because further change was actually desirable?

It was more likely the other way around, Grayling was being ideological and trying to put his political mark on the department where as Gove was more pragmatic and realised that the Grayling changes either didn't or couldn't work. This was a completely different Gove than the one who was at Education where he certainly put his political mark on that department. I'll stop there as I could rant for ages about Gove at Education, all I will say is that my daughter has just completed her Year 6 SATS and I was not impressed with either the curriculum or the tests. 

[TonyK]

Theresa May will not set the world on fire as an orator. She is less inclined to dress up announcements with flowery details, which is probably a good thing but makes her look dull. She does not have David Cameron's sharp wit, but is certainly very capable. That said, some of the appointments have raised eyebrows. I am sorry to see Patrick McLoughlin go from transport, as he seemed to be doing as good a job as possible given the resources.

Mr Grayling has not had a fair crack of the whip by which to show himself able or otherwise, having been appointed Lord Chancellor / Justice Secretary not only with a remit to slash costs, but also as the first non-lawyer in the post since the 17th century.

Despite things such as Crossrail and GWMR electrification being well under way, his in-tray will be full. The "pending" tray will be even fuller. He will not be able to dodge the runway capacity issue, which can has been kicked many times around the block. I think we may see how he is minded to go with the railways fairly soon as the issues that go with increased airport capacity raise themselves for resolution. Then there is HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) - over £1 billion has so far been spent on planning, even before the hybrid bill is published. The path of least resistance is to go ahead as planned, and the new Prime Minister has always voted in favour of HS2 whenever it has arisen in Parliament. Time will tell.

[Noggin]

Theresa May will not set the world on fire as an orator. She is less inclined to dress up announcements with flowery details, which is probably a good thing but makes her look dull. She does not have David Cameron's sharp wit, but is certainly very capable. That said, some of the appointments have raised eyebrows. I am sorry to see Patrick McLoughlin go from transport, as he seemed to be doing as good a job as possible given the resources.

Mr Grayling has not had a fair crack of the whip by which to show himself able or otherwise, having been appointed Lord Chancellor / Justice Secretary not only with a remit to slash costs, but also as the first non-lawyer in the post since the 17th century.

Despite things such as Crossrail and GWMR electrification being well under way, his in-tray will be full. The "pending" tray will be even fuller. He will not be able to dodge the runway capacity issue, which can has been kicked many times around the block. I think we may see how he is minded to go with the railways fairly soon as the issues that go with increased airport capacity raise themselves for resolution. Then there is HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) - over £1 billion has so far been spent on planning, even before the hybrid bill is published. The path of least resistance is to go ahead as planned, and the new Prime Minister has always voted in favour of HS2 whenever it has arisen in Parliament. Time will tell.

When considering Heathrow expansion, bear in mind that Mrs May is MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) for Maidenhead and that Boris is MP for Uxbridge - one would imagine that the majority of their constituents would rather that they voted against. Don't forget too that Manchester and Birmingham are mainly owned by local authorities (and Manchester also own Stansted).

Also, wasn't Mrs May a long-time rail commuter too? That should help matters.

 

[chuffed]

John Hayes returns as Minister of State to the Department with Robert Goodwill moving on to become Immigration minister as the Home Office. Will he ask Jonesy at Crosville in WSM for the  return/loan of his old 1929 Sentinel steam lorry that used to run at Whitby, (as Elizabeth), to transport people in and out of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) ??

[TaplowGreen]

Theresa May will not set the world on fire as an orator. She is less inclined to dress up announcements with flowery details, which is probably a good thing but makes her look dull. She does not have David Cameron's sharp wit, but is certainly very capable. That said, some of the appointments have raised eyebrows. I am sorry to see Patrick McLoughlin go from transport, as he seemed to be doing as good a job as possible given the resources.

Mr Grayling has not had a fair crack of the whip by which to show himself able or otherwise, having been appointed Lord Chancellor / Justice Secretary not only with a remit to slash costs, but also as the first non-lawyer in the post since the 17th century.

Despite things such as Crossrail and GWMR electrification being well under way, his in-tray will be full. The "pending" tray will be even fuller. He will not be able to dodge the runway capacity issue, which can has been kicked many times around the block. I think we may see how he is minded to go with the railways fairly soon as the issues that go with increased airport capacity raise themselves for resolution. Then there is HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) - over £1 billion has so far been spent on planning, even before the hybrid bill is published. The path of least resistance is to go ahead as planned, and the new Prime Minister has always voted in favour of HS2 whenever it has arisen in Parliament. Time will tell.

When considering Heathrow expansion, bear in mind that Mrs May is MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) for Maidenhead and that Boris is MP for Uxbridge - one would imagine that the majority of their constituents would rather that they voted against. Don't forget too that Manchester and Birmingham are mainly owned by local authorities (and Manchester also own Stansted).

Also, wasn't Mrs May a long-time rail commuter too? That should help matters.

 

"One" shouldn't be too sure that the constituents of Maidenhead and Uxbridge would be anti Heathrow expansion, bearing in mind how many of them rely on the airport for employment.........there are isolated areas of extreme resistance (in areas which would be directly affected, ie flattened by LHR expansion) but most people are pretty pragmatic about it - it's the only solution that works in any case to keep Heathrow's place in World aviation and it is vital to the economy and business. Someone needs to grow a pair and get on with it, as we should have with Crossrail decades ago.

[grahame]

John Hayes returns as Minister of State to the Department with Robert Goodwill moving on to become Immigration minister as the Home Office. Will he ask Jonesy at Crosville in WSM for the  return/loan of his old 1929 Sentinel steam lorry that used to run at Whitby, (as Elizabeth), to transport people in and out of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) ??

From Railfuture Express:

Chris Grayling has taken over as Transport Secretary in Theresa May’s government, whilst the new Rail Minister is the Rt Hon John Hayes, MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) for South Holland and The Deepings (around Spalding, Lincs.), who was briefly a transport spokesman under David Cameron in 2005.

[TonyK]

"One" shouldn't be too sure that the constituents of Maidenhead and Uxbridge would be anti Heathrow expansion, bearing in mind how many of them rely on the airport for employment.........there are isolated areas of extreme resistance (in areas which would be directly affected, ie flattened by LHR expansion) but most people are pretty pragmatic about it - it's the only solution that works in any case to keep Heathrow's place in World aviation and it is vital to the economy and business. Someone needs to grow a pair and get on with it, as we should have with Crossrail decades ago.

Heathrow will still be there, will still be operating at close to maximum capacity, and will still be employing more people than work in the city of Newcastle. Mrs May has work to do, and I would suggest that this is as urgent as Brexit, if not more so.

[ChrisB]

John Hayes returns as Minister of State to the Department with Robert Goodwill moving on to become Immigration minister as the Home Office. Will he ask Jonesy at Crosville in WSM for the  return/loan of his old 1929 Sentinel steam lorry that used to run at Whitby, (as Elizabeth), to transport people in and out of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) ??

From Railfuture Express:

Chris Grayling has taken over as Transport Secretary in Theresa May’s government, whilst the new Rail Minister is the Rt Hon John Hayes, MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) for South Holland and The Deepings (around Spalding, Lincs.), who was briefly a transport spokesman under David Cameron in 2005.

Railfuture Express is incorrect & there will be a correction in the next issue. Hayes does replace Goodwill, not Perry (who was an Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (PUSS)