Anne-Marie Trevelyan has been named transport secretary by new prime minister Liz Truss.

The former international trade secretary replaces the much-maligned Grant Shapps.

An important brief

Trevelyan (pictured), who is a chartered accountant by trade, was appointed international trade secretary almost a year ago.

She was first elected MP for the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency at the 2015 general election and, according to her personal website, lives in the constituency with her family.

Trevelyan took to Twitter to say: “Transport is crucial to our lives – bringing people together, creating jobs and connecting the UK with the world. Looking forward to getting to work on the many challenges and opportunities transport brings.”

The new secretary is also expected to follow a strict brief from Truss, who has stated her plans to scrap speed limits on UK motorways in an Autobahn-style system.

Speaking about Trevelyan’s appointment, Edmund King, the AA’s president said: “Despite the financial pressures on the country [the role] still holds the potential for revolutions in the switch to electric vehicles, road safety, competitive pricing, fair enforcement and a leap in car technology.”

Smarter transport?

Shapps was transport secretary during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. He had supported Truss’ rival Rishi Sunak in the Conservative party leadership race.

Leaving his post he tweeted how it had been “privilege” to serve as transport secretary and the role was job he loved. “Now I look forward to being a strong, independent voice on the backbenches, developing policies that will further the Conservative cause,” he wrote.

Shapps will be remembered for a number of controversial decisions, including scrapping electric car subsidies in June while fuel prices soared to record levels across the country.

He was also one of the main drivers behind the smart motorways scheme, despite confirming they were “anything but” safe in an interview last year.

It is unsure if the scheme will continue when a new minister takes the role, with Truss proclaiming her ambition to scrap the project if they’re “not working”.