Unless you’ve been avoiding the news over the past few days you may have noticed that a new Prime Minister is now in office, Boris Johnson in case you missed it!, which has also led to a widespread cabinet reshuffle. This has included a new incumbent as Secretary of State for Transport with Grant Shapps named in the role on 24th July.
Mr Shapps has been an MP since 2005 (representing Welwyn Hatfield) and has had a number of ministerial roles in recent years including as Minister of State at the Department for International Development.
The remainder of the ministerial department currently remains the same with Michael Ellis the Minister of State for Transport who has responsibility for light rail.
Chris Grayling, former Secretary of State, and someone who had courted controversy over various transport issues in recent years, has returned to the backbenches.
In truth this announcement is very unlikely to make much difference to light rail as there are other high profile issues which will be addressed first such as HS2 and Crossrail but you never know someone might surprise us!
No surprises I think over light rail from a man who cancelled the cross-river tram system in London when he was mayor.