Leading trade body the Freight Transport Association FTA today welcomed the appointment of Lord Adonis as the Secretary of State for Transport, but warned that continuing political turmoil could weaken government focus on transport issues yet further.
FTA Chief Executive Theo de Pencier said
With three transport secretaries in less than a year, it has often felt more like a conveyor belt than a serious office of state. We have already made some good progress with Lord Adonis, who seems to have grasped the challenges facing the freight industry in his short time at the Department for Transport. I hope that he will ensure this momentum is not lost, especially during this economic crisis, which has put many companies in the transport sector on their knees.
Investment in the UK's infrastructure is a long term issue, not one dictated by parliamentary terms, or even politicians' careers. If the Government really wants to show they are in control, they need to remain focused on the job in hand, and not allow themselves to get distracted by internal issues.