Heidi Alexander MP has been named as the new Secretary of State for Transport, after Louise Haigh MP stepped down last week.
The Secretary of State has responsibility for the Department for Transport (DfT) and its outputs, spanning road transport and aviation, as well as active, passenger and freight travel. Heidi Alexander will ultimately be responsible for delivering the government’s transport priorities of making transport cheaper, greener and more reliable.
Previously, she held the role of Deputy Mayor for Transport in London, overseeing the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone and aspects of the Crossrail project. More recently, Ms Alexander was a Justice Minister having been appointed as the Member of Parliament for Swindon South earlier this year.
Heidi Alexander MP, pictured centre back, at Arval UK
The BVRLA has written to the new Secretary of State to welcome her to the role and outline where the association and its members wish to see action from the government. The letter builds on direct discussions that the BVRLA and member representatives had with Heidi Alexander last month, when she visited Arval UK in Swindon.
As part of that meeting – and prior to her assuming the role as Secretary of State for Transport – Ms Alexander heard about the role that the sector is playing in the nation’s decarbonisation efforts. She also heard more about the threats to that progress, notably the challenges relating to the used BEV market and transition to zero-emission vans.
Last month’s meeting at Arval UK was arranged as part of the BVRLA’s Industry Champions programme. All members are invited to get involved, with the programme designed to forge relationships between members and their local MPs to ensure that they understand the importance of the industry and the value members add at a local and national level.
