The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes has been given a new job in the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Hayes, who has been minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office, will keep his current role but will now also become Minister of State at the Department for Transport.
Speaking this afternoon after the announcement, Mr Hayes, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Prime Minister has shown this faith in me.
“I’m staying in Downing Street as a member of the Cabinet Office and now I will be minister of State for Transport looking at major transport projects across the whole country.
“I met David Cameron on Monday and he emphasised to me how important that was for the country and I’m the man to do it.
“For me to have another opportunity to serve my constituency and the Government and the country, is such a thrill.
“I am very proud and I have to keep pinching myself to check I’m not dreaming.
“It is such a privilege and honour for me, a boy from a council estate who decided I wanted to be an MP at the age of seven.
“There is a touch of the surreal about it.”
When he spoke to The Voice earlier, Mr Hayes was on his way to his first meeting to discuss his new responsibilities and the department’s priorities, including looking at a new infrastructure bill heading to The Commons.
Mr Hayes added: “Mr Cameron wants me to look at the country’s transport strategy, which is fantastic.
“Everyone is affected by transport, the effectiveness of it or the cost, either in their business or personal life.
“I am very conscious that it has wide ranging effects on my constituents and people across the country and that’s particularly true in a rural area like ours, where getting to work, local services and schools is not always straightforward, so I will look a what can be done.”
Mr Hayes said he hoped the recognition he has received will be good for everyone within his constitiuency.
Mr Hayes’ new role was part of a major reshuffle by David Cameron, which saw William Hague leave his role as foreign secretary to become leader of the Commons.
Education secretary Michael Gove will become the new chief whip. He has been replaced by Treasury minister Nicky Morgan.
Defence secretary Philip Hammond has taken over at the Foreign Office.
Liz Truss, a 38-year-old education minister, has been drafted into the cabinet as environment secretary and business minister Michael Fallon is now defence secretary.
Nick Boles, Grantham and Stamford MP, has been appointed Minister of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education.
MR HAYES – As it stands, The Infrastructure Bill paves the way for road pricing and an even greater rip-off of drivers.
England’s roads have been paid for by the public and are not for sale.
We don’t want our roads transferred to a private company even if in the short term, they are state-owned. The other danger is that they stay nominally state-owned, but hives off the management (and charging) to carpet-bagging companies.
More on this on the Fair Deal for the Motorist website.