Great Western Coffee Shop

2nd in command, I believe, to Grant Shapps

From The BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49125078)


One or two more expected - no news of whether Andrew Jones and / or Nusrat Ghani stays or moves, nor news of portfolios within the department.

Wikipedia on Heaton-Harris

Anti-HS2 is Chris Heaton-Harris.

Of course, HS2 might not be in his portfolio. It currently resides with Nus Ghani.

Interestingly, his appointment does mean that Boris has sacked at least one Minister, but which one isn't yet clear.

Or moved one, or added to the team size??

Yes, moved also, fair comment.

Unlikely to have added one though, what portfolio wuld they have? aren't all bases covered? There's a max number of paid members within Government too.

DfT website now says


... let's see if he pops up elsewhere ...

.... brother by any chance ? ....

Monty Python's Flying Circus: Series 4, Episode 2 tells you all you need to know...

But has he got the legs?  :D

Junior Ministers:

George Freeman (Mid-Norfolk MP) in.

Andrew Jones gone but replacement not yet known. (local Harrogate newspaper).

OTC

At times like these, I can't help wondering if some sort of continuity might be helpful in achieving something - or does the DfT work in true "Yes Minister" style, with the civil servants driving where they wish to go, and the ministers projecting the civil service policy with the political slant that's been explained to them by their team.

However it works, at 2 months and 1 day, was Michael Ellis the shortest political appointment at the DfT of all time?

And Michael Ellis almost single handedly took on Transport Questions last Thursday. His style and wordy verbosity reminded of a predecessor (Sir) John Hayes who was in the Dft twice as was the now departed Andrew Jones. I see Paul Maynard is back for his second stint at Transport, but remains a lowly Parliamentary under secretary.
The top three in the Dft have all changed, but I think it may well become something of a becalmed backwater in the top echelons of goverment

As he is MP for Blackpool North, lets hope that he is sufficiently impressed by those Pendolinos and 319's now serving his manor that he encourages the spread of the wires.

OTC

It's the afore-mentioned Paul Maynard....

The exact titles of the six ministers are given with images at the bottom of page of the link below. It also gives the top Civil Service managers, who decide the size of the flip down tables at your IET seat etc...

Maynard has the rail brief.

OTC


https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport

Chris Heaton-Harris took break from constituency business to travel to Paddington today to address the GWR Stakeholder's conference.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/chh_2019_stakeholder.jpg)

I was fortunate to be there - as were at least five other members, all of whom are encouraged to add their comments.

Personally, I felt that most of his speech focused on how well and far forward we have come so far this decade, with only a small glimpse forward to the future.  We are, though, told that he will be granting a derogation to allow class 143 units to be used beyond the end of the year, and to expect a white paper as the outcome of the Williams review before the end of the year - sooner if other pressing matters allow.   Questions invited him to look towards further electrification, but while he seemed keen to embrace the lower carbon agenda, he indicated that he was aware of his civil servant minders in the audience and should not make any commitment.

Further posts on the day planned over the weekend; not been home since Monday and on my way now.