Louise
Haigh has
been appointed
transport
secretary
by
the
new
Prime
Minister
Sir
Keir
Starmer.

She
had
served
as
shadow
transport
secretary
since
November
2021
while
the
Labour
Party
was
in
opposition.


She
had
previously
served
as
shadow
secretary
of
state
for
Northern
Ireland,
shadow
minister
at
the
Home
Office)
(Policing),
shadow
minister
(Culture,
Media
and
Sport)
(Digital
Economy)
and
shadow
minister
at
the
Cabinet
Office.



Ms
Haigh,
36,
was
elected
Member
of
Parliament
for
Sheffield
Heeley
in
the
2015
general
election,
and
became
the
youngest
Labour
member
of
that
parliament.

Although
Labour
is
planning
to
nationalise
the
remaining
former
passenger
franchises,
private
sector
trade
body
Rail
Partners
says
it
wants
to
work
with
Ms
Haigh.

Chief
executive
Andy
Bagnall
said:
‘Congratulations
to
Louise
Haigh
on
her
appointment
as
transport
secretary.

‘The
railway
is
facing
severe
challenges
and
train
companies
agree
that
urgent
rail
reform
is
needed.
Getting
this
reform
right
is
critical
for
the
UK’s
economic
growth,
sustainability
and
the
public
purse.

‘Rail
Partners
and
its
members
hope
to
work
with
the
new
transport
secretary
and
her
wider
ministerial
team
to
ensure
the
railway
is
delivering
for
passengers
and
freight
customers.’