Secretary of State for Transport

Last updated

United Kingdom
Secretary of State
for Transport
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Official portrait of Rt Hon Mark Harper MP.jpg
Incumbent
Mark Harper
since 25 October 2022
Department for Transport
Style Transport Secretary
(informal)
The Right Honourable
(within the UK and Commonwealth)
Type Minister of the Crown
Status Secretary of State
Member of
Reports to The Prime Minister
Seat Westminster
NominatorThe Prime Minister
Appointer The Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term length At His Majesty's Pleasure
Formation
  • 19 May 1919:
    (as Minister of Transport)
  • 29 May 2002:
    (as Secretary of State for Transport)
First holder Eric Campbell Geddes
(as Minister of Transport)
Salary£159,038 per annum (2022) [1]
(including £86,584 MP salary) [2]
Website www.dft.gov.uk

The secretary of state for transport, also referred to as the transport secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the policies of the Department for Transport. [3] The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.

Contents

The office holder works alongside the other transport ministers. The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow secretary of state for transport, and the secretary of state is also scrutinised by the Transport Select Committee. [4]

The current secretary of state for transport is Mark Harper, who was appointed on 25 October 2022. [5]

History

The Ministry of Transport absorbed the Ministry of Shipping and was renamed the Ministry of War Transport in 1941, but resumed its previous name at the end of the war. [6]

The Ministry of Civil Aviation was created by Winston Churchill in 1944 to look at peaceful ways of using aircraft and to find something for the aircraft factories to do after the war. [7] The new Conservative government in 1951 appointed the same minister to both Transport and Civil Aviation, finally amalgamating the ministries on 1 October 1953. [8]

The Ministry was renamed back to the Ministry of Transport on 14 October 1959, when a separate Ministry of Aviation was formed.

Transport responsibilities were subsumed by the Department for the Environment, headed by the secretary of state for the environment from 15 October 1970 to 10 September 1976.

The Department for Transport was recreated as a separate department by James Callaghan in 1976. [9]

The super-department Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions was created in 1997 for Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

In 2001, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions was widely considered unwieldy and so was broken up, [10] with the Transport functions now combined with Local Government and the Regions in the DTLR (Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions).

List of ministers and secretaries of state

Minister of Transport (1919–1941)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Conservative    Labour    National Labour    Liberal    National Liberal

MinisterTerm of officePolitical partyPrime Minister
Eric Campbell Geddes 19 May 19197 November 1921 Conservative David Lloyd George
(Coalition)
William Peel, Viscount Peel 7 November 192112 April 1922 Conservative
David Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford 12 April 192231 October 1922 Conservative
John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven 31 October 192222 January 1924 Conservative Bonar Law
Stanley Baldwin
Harry Gosling 24 January 19243 November 1924 Labour Ramsay MacDonald
Wilfrid Ashley 11 November 19244 June 1929 Conservative Stanley Baldwin
Herbert Morrison 7 June 192924 August 1931 Labour Ramsay MacDonald
John Pybus 3 September 193122 February 1933 Liberal Ramsay MacDonald
(1st & 2nd National min.)
Hon. Oliver Stanley 22 February 193329 June 1934 Conservative
Leslie Hore-Belisha 29 June 193428 May 1937 National Liberal
Stanley Baldwin
(3rd National min.)
Leslie Burgin 28 May 193721 April 1939 National Liberal Neville Chamberlain
(4th National min.)
Euan Wallace 21 April 193914 May 1940 Conservative Neville Chamberlain
(War Coalition)
John Reith 14 May 19403 October 1940 National Independent Winston Churchill
(War Coalition)
John Moore-Brabazon 3 October 19401 May 1941 Conservative

Minister of (War) Transport and Minister of Civil Aviation (1941–1953)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Conservative    Labour    National Liberal

Minister of
Transport		Minister of
Civil Aviation		Term of officePolitical partyPrime Minister
Frederick Leathers, 1st Viscount Leathers
(Min. of War Transport)		—1 May 194126 July 1945 Conservative Winston Churchill
(War Coalition)
Philip Cunliffe-Lister, Viscount Swinton 8 October 194426 July 1945 Conservative
Alfred Barnes Reginald Fletcher, 1st Baron Winster 3–4 August 19454 October 1946 Labour Clement Attlee
Harry Nathan, 1st Baron Nathan 4 October 194631 May 1948 Labour
Francis Pakenham, Lord Pakenham 31 May 19481 June 1951 Labour
David Rees-Williams, 1st Baron Ogmore 1 June 195126 October 1951 Labour
Hon. John Maclay 31 October 19517 May 1952 National Liberal Winston Churchill
Alan Lennox-Boyd 7 May 19521 October 1953 Conservative

Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1953–1959)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Conservative

MinisterTerm of officePolitical partyPrime Minister
Alan Lennox-Boyd 1 October 195328 July 1954 Conservative Winston Churchill
John Boyd-Carpenter 28 July 195420 December 1955 Conservative
Harold Watkinson 20 December 195514 October 1959 Conservative Anthony Eden
Harold Macmillan

Minister of Transport (1959–1970)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Conservative    Labour

MinisterTerm of officePolitical partyPrime Minister
Ernest Marples 14 October 195916 October 1964 Conservative Harold Macmillan
Alec Douglas-Home
Thomas Fraser 16 October 196423 December 1965 Labour Harold Wilson
Barbara Castle 23 December 19656 April 1968 Labour
Richard Marsh 6 April 19686 October 1969 Labour
Fred Mulley [11] 6 October 196922 June 1970 Labour
John Peyton [12] 23 June 197014 October 1970 Conservative Edward Heath

Minister within the Department of the Environment (1970–1976)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Conservative    Labour

MinisterTerm of officeLength of TermPolitical partyPrime Minister
Peter Walker 15 October 19705 November 19722 years Conservative Edward Heath
Geoffrey Rippon 5 November 19724 March 19741 year, 3 months Conservative
Anthony Crosland 5 March 19748 April 19762 years, 1 month Labour Harold Wilson

The junior ministers responsible for transport within the Department for the Environment:

Minister for Transport Industries (1970–1974)

Minister for Transport (1974–1976)

Secretary of State for Transport (1976–1979)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Labour

Secretary of StateTerm of officeLength of TermPolitical partyPrime Minister
Official portrait of Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank crop 2.jpg Bill Rodgers [14] 10 September 19764 May 19792 years, 7 months Labour James Callaghan

Minister of Transport (1979–1981)

Not an official member of the cabinet.

Colour key (for political parties):
   Conservative

MinisterTerm of officeLength of TermPolitical partyPrime Minister
Official portrait of Lord Fowler crop 2.jpg Norman Fowler [15] 11 May 19795 January 19811 year, 7 months Conservative Margaret Thatcher

Secretary of State for Transport (1981–1997)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Conservative

Secretary of StateTerm of officeLength of TermPolitical partyPrime Minister
Official portrait of Lord Fowler crop 2.jpg Norman Fowler [15] 5 January 198114 September 19818 months Conservative Margaret Thatcher
Official portrait of Lord Howell of Guildford 2020 crop 2.jpg David Howell [16] 14 September 198111 June 19831 year, 8 months Conservative
Official portrait of Lord King of Bridgwater crop 2.jpg Tom King [17] 11 June 198316 October 19834 months Conservative
Blank.png Hon. Nicholas Ridley 16 October 198321 May 19862 years, 7 months Conservative
Mr John Moore M.P. addressing the Annual LSE Society Dinner, 5th June, 1985.jpg John Moore [18] 21 May 198613 June 19871 year Conservative
Blank.png Paul Channon 13 June 198724 July 19892 years, 1 month Conservative
Blank.png Cecil Parkinson [19] 24 July 198928 November 19901 year, 4 months Conservative
Malcolm Rifkind 2011 (cropped).jpg Malcolm Rifkind [20] 28 November 199010 April 19922 years, 8 months Conservative John Major
Official portrait of Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market crop 2.jpg John MacGregor [21] 11 April 199220 July 19942 years, 3 months Conservative
Blank.png Brian Mawhinney [22] 20 July 19945 July 199511 months Conservative
Official portrait of Lord Young of Cookham, 2020.jpg Sir George Young, 6th Baronet [23] 5 July 19952 May 19971 year, 9 months Conservative

Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions (1997–2001)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Labour

Secretary of StateTerm of officeLength of TermPolitical partyPrime Minister
John Prescott [24]
MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle 		John Prescott on his last day as Deputy Prime Minister, June 2007.jpg

MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle

2 May 19977 June 20014 years, 1 month Labour Tony Blair

Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (2001–2002)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Labour

Secretary of StateTerm of officeLength of TermPolitical partyPrime Minister
Stephen Byers [25]

MP for North Tyneside

8 June 200128 May 200211 months Labour Tony Blair

After Byers' resignation, such a division was made, with the portfolios of Local Government and the Regions transferred to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

During the lifetime of DTLGR, John Spellar served as Minister of State for Transport with a right to attend Cabinet.

Secretary of State for Transport (2002–present)

Colour key (for political parties):
   Conservative    Labour

Secretary of StateTerm of officeLength of TermPolitical partyPrime Minister
Alistair Darling official portrait (cropped).jpg Alistair Darling [27]
MP for Edinburgh South West 		29 May 2002 5 May 2006 3 years, 11 months Labour Tony Blair
Douglas Alexander at the India Economic Summit 2008.jpg Douglas Alexander [28]
MP for Paisley and South Renfrewshire 		5 May 2006 28 June 20071 year, 1 month Labour
Ruth Kelly official portrait.jpg Ruth Kelly [29]
MP for Bolton West 		28 June 20075 October 20081 year, 3 months Labour Gordon Brown
Geoff Hoon Headshot.jpg Geoff Hoon [30]
MP for Ashfield 		5 October 20085 June 20098 months Labour
Lord Adonis.jpg Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis [31] 6 June 20096 May 201011 months Labour
Official portrait of Mr Philip Hammond crop 2.jpg Philip Hammond [32] [33]
MP for Runnymede and Weybridge 		12 May 201014 October 20111 year, 5 months Conservative David Cameron
(Coalition)
Official portrait of Justine Greening crop 2.jpg Justine Greening [34]
MP for Putney 		14 October 2011 6 September 2012 10 months Conservative
Official portrait of Lord McLoughlin, 2022.jpg Patrick McLoughlin [35]
MP for Derbyshire Dales 		6 September 2012 14 July 20163 years, 10 months Conservative
David Cameron
(II)
Official portrait of Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP crop 2.jpg Chris Grayling [36]
MP for Epsom and Ewell 		14 July 201624 July 20193 years, 10 days Conservative Theresa May
Official portrait of Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP crop 2.jpg Grant Shapps [37]
MP for Welwyn Hatfield 		24 July 20196 September 20223 years, 1 month Conservative Boris Johnson
Official portrait of Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan crop 2.jpg Anne-Marie Trevelyan [38]
MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed 		6 September 202225 October 20227 weeks Conservative Liz Truss
Official portrait of Rt Hon Mark Harper MP crop 2.jpg Mark Harper [39]
MP for Forest of Dean 		25 October 2022Incumbent1 year, 5 months Conservative Rishi Sunak

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23" (PDF). 15 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "Pay and expenses for MPs". parliament.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Secretary of State for Transport". gov.uk . Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Work of the secretary of state for transport scrutinised". UK PARLIAMENT. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2022. This oral evidence session will examine the work and responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Transport and the Department for Transport.
  5. ↑ "Secretary of State for Transport - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  6. ↑ Records inherited and created by the Ministry of Transport, Shipping Divisions. Admiralty, Transport Department, Board of Trade, Mercantile Marine Department, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping. 1795–1985.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ↑ "Churchill and Air Travel". International Churchill Society. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "British Police History". british-police-history.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Times, Robert B. Semple Jr Special to The New York (11 September 1976). "Callaghan, in a Surprise Move, Reshuffles His Cabinet". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions: annual report 2001". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Lord Mulley". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Lord Peyton of Yeovil". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "Lord Gilbert". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  15. 1 2 "Lord Fowler". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "Lord Howell of Guildford". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Lord King of Bridgwater". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "Lord Moore of Lower Marsh". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  19. ↑ "Lord Parkinson". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  20. ↑ "Sir Malcolm Rifkind". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  21. ↑ "Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  22. ↑ "Lord Mawhinney". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  23. ↑ "Lord Young of Cookham". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  24. ↑ "Lord Prescott". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  25. ↑ "Mr Stephen Byers". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  26. ↑ "John Spellar". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  27. ↑ "Lord Darling of Roulanish". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  28. ↑ "Mr Douglas Alexander". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  29. ↑ "Ruth Kelly". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  30. ↑ "Mr Geoffrey Hoon". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  31. ↑ "Lord Adonis". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  32. ↑ "Lord Hammond of Runnymede". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  33. ↑ "Out with the old cabinet, in with the new". Public Service. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  34. ↑ "Justine Greening". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  35. ↑ "Lord McLoughlin". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  36. ↑ "Chris Grayling". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  37. ↑ "Grant Shapps". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  38. ↑ "The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  39. ↑ "Mark Harper". UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
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