Heidi Alexander becomes new Secretary of State for Transport
Heidi Alexander has been sworn in as the new Secretary of State for Transport after former Minister Louise Haigh resigned over a fraud offence a decade ago.
Alexander is currently in her second term as an MP, having previously resigned in 2018. She spent over three years as London’s deputy mayor of transport under Sadiq Khan.
Previous Minister Haigh had committed to “unprecedented levels of funding” for cycling and walking. Cycling UK welcomed this announcement but was keen to see words turned into action. With Haigh’s resignation, it will now be for Alexander to bring this to life.
Sarah McMonagle, director of external affairs at Cycling UK, said: “We’d like to thank Louise Haigh for her outstanding work in championing active travel during her time as Secretary of State for Transport, and prior to that, as Shadow Secretary. Louise clearly understands the role that cycling can play in achieving the government’s missions, particularly its role in improving public health and tackling the cost-of-living crisis.”
McMonagle added: “We warmly welcome Heidi Alexander to her new role. She brings a wealth of experience as the former deputy mayor for transport in London and is a cyclist herself. We urge the new Secretary of State to ensure we maximise the enormous range of benefits that come when more people cycle by putting cycling front and centre of the new Integrated Transport Strategy. Heidi has actively engaged with Cycling UK for many years, and we look forward to building on that relationship as she takes forward her new brief.”
Since her appointment to the Ministerial role on November 29th, Alexander’s main focus and media talking points have been around the renationalisation of railways in the UK. Currently being labelled the ‘Ulez architect’ by some publications, Alexander has not yet commented on her aims and aspirations for British cycling.
During a speech in 2018, when the now Minister was London’s deputy mayor of transport, Alexander stated politicians have a “moral responsibility” to act to prevent road deaths and injuries, sharing her sadness that six cyclists died so far that year in the capital.
