In July, the new Prime Minister drew praise for making a series of government appointments quickly after arriving in Downing Street. His approach was businesslike and appeared well planned, with many individuals appointed to the ministerial duties they had previously shadowed in opposition. But there were some surprises too, especially the so-called ‘external’ appointments: Lord Patrick Vallance is the new Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation; Lord Peter Hendy is Minister of State for Rail; Lord James Timpson is Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending; and Lord Richard Hermer KC is the Attorney General.
Creating this new Government required new peerages to be given to Vallance, Timpson and Hermer making them members of the House of Lords; Hendy had already been made a crossbench peer in 2022, but is nevertheless considered an outsider because, unlike Ministers such as Baroness Smith of Basildon – a known supporter of the warehousing sector and MP from 1997 to 2010 – he has never held an elected parliamentary office.
After Gordon Brown took a similar approach during his tenure, a House of Commons report challenged the covert introduction of “presidential powers of appointment” whilst acknowledging that outsiders can inject fresh thinking into government and broaden the available talent pool beyond the existing roster of parliamentarians.
Known for his railway expertise, Lord Hendy began his career as a graduate trainee with London Transport, which was succeeded by Transport for London in 2000. This is a remarkably politicised organisation and as Transport Commissioner, Hendy worked with the London Mayor, and led a huge investment programme. He is no stranger to politics and brings both sectoral expertise and organisational experience to the role.
This can only be a good thing for the warehousing sector: our success is contingent on effective transport systems for freight and alongside his vast experience of passenger transport, Peter Hendy is well connected and well known in freight transport circles too, for example having been a Trustee of our industry charity Transaid.
James Timpson, meanwhile, brings bona fida business credentials to his new position. Well known for tackling recidivism by employing ex-offenders, one in ten of Timpsons’ staff have been in prison and he has chaired the Prison Reform Trust. This is another appointment which bodes well for warehousing, because it indicates that the new government wants to engage with the business community. UKWA is open to that too. Members of our team are attending the forthcoming Party Conferences, where we will be taking every opportunity to represent our members.
Clare Bottle
UKWA, CEO
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