Grant Shapps has been fired as transport secretary and replaced with Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who is MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, by the new prime minister Liz Truss.
Shapps was first appointed to the role in 2019 and has experienced several controversies during his tenure, including transport services facing crises during the pandemic, oversight of the smart motorways scheme and, more recently, action from rail union groups.
Trevelyan previously held the position of secretary of state for international trade and president of the board of trade.
Following the announcement, Trevelyan tweeted: “Transport is crucial to our lives – bringing people together, creating jobs & connecting the UK with the world.
“Looking forward to getting to work on the many challenges & opportunities transport brings.”
Shapps backed Rishi Sunak during the Conservative leadership election, whereas Trevelyan backed Tom Tugendhat, who was eliminated in the third ballot, before switching to Truss.
In her cabinet reshuffle, Truss also confirmed Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor of the exchequer, Suella Braverman as home secretary, James Cleverly as foreign secretary and Therese Coffey as both deputy prime minister and health secretary. Dominic Raab and Nadine Dorries have returned to backbench positions.
