Furious row erupts between Sadiq Khan and Grant Shapps over Crossrail announcement ELIZABETH LINE A furious row has broken out between the Mayor of London and the transport secretary over today’s announcement that Crossrail will open on 24 May. Grant Shapps MP referred Sadiq Khan to the Electoral Commission accusing him of “breathtaking political cynicism”, according to the Telegraph. This comes after it was announced this morning the Elizabeth [...]
Grant Shapps gave private ‘assurance’ to top Tory about scrapping of £3bn HS2 branch from bill HS2 row A proposed £3bn branch of HS2 linking Crew and Manchester with the west coast may be scrapped, the transport secretary reportedly told a senior Tory MP. The government insists no decisions have been made about the Golborne Link element of the project, despite claims Grant Shapps privately promised the chair of the 1922 committee, Sir [...]
UK to level up local transport with £7bn investment Levelling up The UK Government announced today it will invest £7bn to level up the country’s local transport system. Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted that the funding will be use “to roll out cheaper, better bus services outside of London”, providing upgrade to tram, cycling and rail networks too. Under the scheme, 31 counties, city regions and [...]
Government urged to launch public inquiry into P&O scandal April 1, 2022 The government has been urged to launch a public inquiry into the P&O scandal, during which almost 800 workers were made redundant. The Liberal Democrats have written to the cabinet secretary Simon Case calling for immediate action so “families can get the answers they deserve”, after hundreds of people lost their jobs and were plunged [...]
Grant Shapps says new measures will make P&O “fundamentally rethink” layoffs March 30, 2022 Grant Shapps unveiled today a new set of measures which are expected to make P&O Ferries “fundamentally rethink” the sacking of almost 800 seafarers. “P&O Ferries’ failure to see reason, to recognise the public anger, and to do the right thing by their staff has left the government with no choice,” he told the House [...]
Grant Shapps blocks Sadiq Khan’s Cockfosters development proposal March 11, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps announced today he has blocked a development project brought forward by London mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL). Writing to Chipping Barnet’s MP Theresa Villiers Shapps said he refused the application made by TfL to build tower blocks over Cockfosters’ station car park. “It was shocking when Labour councillors [...]
Grant Shapps promises angry commuters ‘big improvements’ in railway timetables February 4, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has promised angry commuters that ‘big improvements’ in railway timetables are bound to take place within the next two weeks. Shapps said this morning he’s in talks with train operators to bring timetables back to quasi normal levels, as the number of people travelling has increased significantly following the removal of [...]
UK to focus on hydrogen-powered transport, Shapps announces November 23, 2021 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has announced the UK will focus on the development of hydrogen-powered transport to achieve its net zero targets. Speaking at the Expo 2020 Dubai, the secretary talked about a partnership with the UAE to develop a technology innovation centre to reduce the environmental impact of aviation and shipping, the Independent reported. [...]
Grant Shapps alleged to be lobbying against government housing plans November 14, 2021 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has allegedly spent public money on lobbying to oppose the government’s plans to build on private runways, the Sunday Times reported. An aviation aficionado, Grant’s reported fight against development plans has led housing agency Home England to withdraw plans for thousands of homes to be built, including a project to build [...]
Shapps echoes Sunak saying Christmas gifts will be available October 16, 2021 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has echoed Chancellor Rishi Sunak and said that Christmas gifts will be available despite the backlogs witnessed at UK ports. “People will be able to get things for Christmas,” he told Sky News. “When I talk to the ports they said it is a busy picture, but if you compared us [...]