Patrick McLoughlin has replaced Justine Greening as transport secretary in a move which could prove highly significant for the possible expansion of Heathrow.
Prime minister David Cameron shunted Greening, a staunch opponent of a new third runway, to the international development brief as part of his first major Cabinet reshuffle.
The West London MP will be replaced by former coalminer and MP for Derbyshire Dales, McLouglin.
The move follows a slew of calls from senior Tories for Cameron to rethink his opposition to Heathrow expansion and while McLouglin has previously voted against a third runway, his position is likely to be more flexible than Greening’s, who only last week categorically ruled out being part of a government which expanded the airport.
McLouglin served as a minister in the DfT during Margaret Thatcher’s premiership and more recently held the post of parliamentary secretary to the Treasury.
Rail minister Theresa Villiers has also left the Department for Transport. She has been promoted to Northern Ireland secretary. Her replacement has yet to be announced.
jack.sidders@estatesgazette.com
