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Shadow Secretary of State for Transport

{{Short description|Political post in the United Kingdom}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox Political post

| post = Shadow Secretary of State for Transport

| image = Official portrait of Mr Gareth Bacon MP.jpg

| incumbent = Gareth Bacon

| incumbentsince = 5 November 2024

| appointer = Leader of the Opposition

| website = [http://www2.labour.org.uk/shadow-cabinet The Shadow Cabinet]

| department = Shadow Cabinet of the United Kingdom

| reports_to = Leader of the Opposition

}}The shadow secretary of state for transport is a political post in the United Kingdom. It has been consistently held by a member of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet since May 1979. The shadow secretary helps hold the transport secretary and junior ministers to account and is the lead spokesperson on transport matters for their party. Should the relevant party take office, the shadow secretary would be a likely candidate to become the transport secretary.

At various times, the post has been called Shadow Minister for Transport (including from 1979 to 1981), Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment and Transport.

Shadow secretaries of state

{| class="wikitable"

! colspan=7|

=Shadow Minister of Transport=

|-

! colspan="3"|Name

! Took office

! Left office

! Political party

! Shadow Cabinet

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

|rowspan=2 | George Strauss

|rowspan=2 | 75px

|rowspan=2 | 15 July 1955

|rowspan=2 | 16 November 1959{{cite book |author1=Robert Malcolm Punnett |title=Front-bench opposition; the role of the Leader of the Opposition, the Shadow Cabinet and Shadow Government in British politics |date=1973 |publisher=London |pages=458-467 |url=https://archive.org/details/frontbenchopposi0000punn/page/458/mode/1up |access-date=18 April 2025}}

|rowspan=2 | Labour

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}| Attlee

|-

! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} rowspan=3 | Gaitskell

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Tony Benn

| 75px

| 16 November 1959

| 28 November 1960

| Labour

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=3 |George Strauss

| rowspan=3 |75px

| rowspan=3 |28 November 1960

| rowspan=3 |16 October 1964

| rowspan=3 |Labour

|-

! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Brown

|-

! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Wilson

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Ernest Marples

| 75px

| 16 October 1964

| 29 October 1964

| Conservative

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Douglas-Home

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Enoch Powell

| 75px

| 29 October 1964

| 4 August 1965

| Conservative

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Martin Redmayne

| 75px

| 4 August 1965

| 19 April 1966

| Conservative

| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Heath

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Peter Walker

| 75px

| 19 April 1966

| 14 November 1968

| Conservative

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Margaret Thatcher

| 75px

| 14 November 1968

| 21 October 1969

| Conservative

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Peter Walker

| 75px

| 21 October 1969

| 19 June 1970

| Conservative

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Fred Mulley

| 75px

| 19 June 1970

| 4 March 1974

| Labour

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Wilson II

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan="2" colspan="2" |Unknown

| rowspan=2 | 4 March 1974

| rowspan=2 | 15 January 1976

| rowspan=2 | Conservative

| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Heath II

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Thatcher

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Norman Fowler

| 75px

| 15 January 1976{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cZJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BaUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4418,2445488&dq=thatcher+shadow-cabinet&hl=en |title=Mrs Thatcher drops Younger in reshuffle |author=William Russell |work=The Glasgow Herald |date=16 January 1976 |page=1}}

| 4 May 1979

| Conservative

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| William Rodgers

| 75px

| 4 May 1979

| 14 June 1979

| Labour

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Callaghan

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=2 | Albert Booth{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3PM9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=-EgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6502,3415447&dq=silkin+smith&hl=en |title=Shore steps up as Owen is demoted |work=The Glasgow Herald |date=15 June 1979 |first=Geoffrey |last=Parkhouse |page=1}}Booth was Shadow Minister of Transport until September 1981, when the Minister of Transport became Secretary of State for Transport.

| rowspan=2 | 75px

| rowspan=2 | 14 June 1979

| rowspan=2 | September 1981

| rowspan=2 | Labour

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |Foot

|-

! colspan=7|

=Shadow Secretary of State for Transport=

|-

! colspan=3|Shadow Secretary

! Took office

! Left office

! Political party

! Shadow Cabinet

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Albert Booth

| 75px

| September 1981

| 31 October 1983

| Labour

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |Foot

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| John Prescott{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K_s9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=K0kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5830,70146&dq=kinnock+shadow+cabinet&hl=en |title=Protest by Nationalists as Dewar takes over |date=1 November 1983 |work=The Glasgow Herald |first=Geoffrey |last=Parkhouse |page=7}}

| 75px

| 31 October 1983

| 26 October 1984

| Labour

| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Kinnock

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Gwyneth Dunwoody{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i_E9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=5kgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4449,6188718&hl=en |title=Smith chosen to shadow Tebbit |date=27 October 1984 |work=The Glasgow Herald |first=Geoffrey |last=Parkhouse |page=1}}

| 75px

| 26 October 1984

| 4 November 1985

| Labour

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Robert Hughes{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S8BAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1aUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6266,849992&dq=hughes+shadow+transport&hl=en |title=Transport job goes to Hugues |work=The Glasgow Herald |first=Stuart |last=Trotter |date=5 November 1985 |page=7}}

| 75px

| 4 November 1985

| 23 November 1988

| Labour

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}; border-bottom:solid 1px {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" height=30 |

| rowspan=2 | John Prescott

| rowspan=2 | 75px

| rowspan=2 | 23 November 1988

| rowspan=2 | 21 October 1993

| rowspan=2 | Labour

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=2 style="height:75px;"{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Smith

|-

| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" height=30 |

| rowspan=2 | Frank Dobson{{cite web |last=Timmins |first= Nicholas |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/smith-revamps-shadow-cabinet-nicholas-timmins-analyses-the-labour-lineup-and-looks-at-the-backgrounds-of-the-newcomers-1535256.html |title=Smith revamps Shadow Cabinet: Nicholas Timmins analyses the Labour line-up and looks at the backgrounds of the newcomers |work=The Independent |location=London |date=25 July 1992 |accessdate=2 June 2011}}

| rowspan=2 | 75px

| rowspan=2 | 21 October 1993

| rowspan=2 | 20 October 1994

| rowspan=2 | Labour

|-

|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Beckett

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Michael Meacher{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/blair-uses-reshuffle-to-put-own-sta-on-shadow-cabinet-brown-stays-as-shadow-chancellor--cook-takes-foreign-affairs--straw-is-shadow-home-secretary--beckett-moves-to-health-1444101.html |title=Blair uses reshuffle to put own sta on Shadow Cabinet: Brown stays as shadow Chancellor—Cook takes foreign affairs—Straw is shadow Home Secretary—Beckett moves to health |work=The Independent |date=21 October 1994 |accessdate=18 July 2011 |last=Timms |first=Nicholas}}

| 75px

| 20 October 1994

| 19 October 1995

| Labour

| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Blair

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Clare Short{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/new-s-promoted-by-blair-1578763.html |title=New MPs promoted by Blair |date=22 October 1995 |accessdate=26 July 2011 |work=The Independent}}

| 112x112px

| 19 October 1995

| 25 July 1996

| Labour

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Andrew Smith{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199697/cmwib/wb961026/oppo.htm |title=Opposition Front Bench Spokespersons 1996/97 |date=26 October 1996 |accessdate=26 July 2011 |work=Weekly Information Bulletin |publisher=House of Commons Information Office}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/a-rare-national-treasure-in-peril-1330437.html |title=A rare national treasure in peril |first=John |last=Rentoul |work=The Independent |date=26 July 1996}}

| 75px

| 25 July 1996

| 2 May 1997

| Labour

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Sir George Young{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmwib/wb970517/oppo.htm |title=Opposition Frontbench Spokespersons as at 13 May 1997 (Interim List) |accessdate=1 October 2011 |work=Weekly Information Bulletin |publisher=House of Commons Information Office}}

| 75px

| 2 May 1997

| June 1997

| Conservative

|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Major

|-

! colspan=7|

=Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions=

|-

! colspan="3"|Name

! Took office

! Left office

! Political party

! Shadow Cabinet

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Norman Fowler

| 75px

| June 1997

| 1 June 1998

| Conservative

| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Hague

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Gillian Shepherd{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/104199.stm |title=Hague reshuffles shadow cabinet |publisher=BBC News |date=1 June 1998 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}

| 75px

| 1 June 1998

| 14 June 1999

| Conservative

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| John Redwood{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/jun/16/uk.politicalnews |title=Lilley sacked in Hague reshuffle |work=The Guardian |date=15 June 1999 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}

| 75px

| 14 June 1999

| 2 February 2000

| Conservative

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Archie Norman

| 75px

| 2 February 2000

| 18 September 2001

| Conservative

|-

! colspan=7|

=Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions=

|-

! colspan="3"|Name

! Took office

! Left office

! Political party

! Shadow Cabinet

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Theresa May{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1543765.stm |title=Eurosceptics prosper under Duncan Smith |publisher=BBC News |date=14 September 2001 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmwib/wb011020/oppo.htm |title=Opposition Front Bench Team as at 16 October 2001 |work=Weekly Information Bulletin |publisher=House of Commons Information Office |date=20 October 2001 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}

| 75px

| 18 September 2001

| 23 July 2002

| Conservative

|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Duncan Smith

|-

! colspan=7|

=Shadow Secretary of State for Transport=

|-

! colspan="3"|Name

! Took office

! Left office

! Political party

! Shadow Cabinet

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Tim Collins{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1402264/Tory-shadow-cabinet.html |title=Tory shadow cabinet |work=The Telegraph |date=23 July 2002 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}

| 75px

| 23 July 2002

| 10 November 2003

| Conservative

|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Duncan Smith

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Damian Green{{#tag:ref|During this period, Michael Howard had a small Shadow Cabinet, with members heading "super" Shadow Departments. The Shadow Transport Secretary was part of the Shadow Environment and Transport team, which was headed by the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment and Transport. Theresa May first held thislatter office, and was replaced by Tim Yeo on 14 June 2004.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3805759.stm |title=Howard reshuffles his Tory team |publisher=BBC News |date=14 June 2004 |accessdate=10 March 2013}} When Damian Green resigned from the frontbench during a reshuffle on 8 September 2004, Yeo took on his responsibilities.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3639240.stm |title=Redwood returns to Tory frontline |publisher=BBC News |date=8 September 2004 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}|group=n}}

| 75px

| 10 November 2003

| 8 September 2004

| Conservative

|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |Howard

|-

! colspan=7|

=Shadow Secretary of State for Environment and Transport=

|-

! colspan="3"|Name

! Took office

! Left office

! Political party

! Shadow Cabinet

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Tim Yeo

| 75px

| 8 September 2004

| 10 May 2005

| Conservative

|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |Howard

|-

! colspan=7|

=Shadow Secretary of State for Transport=

|-

! colspan="3"|Name

! Took office

! Left office

! Political party

! Shadow Cabinet

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Alan Duncan{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4533555.stm |title=Howard reshuffles top Tory team |publisher=BBC News |date=10 May 2005 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}

| 75px

| 6 May 2005

| 8 December 2005

| Conservative

|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |Howard

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Chris Grayling{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4509458.stm |title=At-a-glance: New shadow cabinet |publisher=BBC News |date=8 December 2005 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}

| 75px

| 8 December 2005

| 2 July 2007

| Conservative

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Cameron

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Theresa Villiers{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6263270.stm |title=In full: Cameron's shadow cabinet |publisher=BBC News |date=2 July 2007 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}

| 75px

| 2 July 2007

| 11 May 2010

| Conservative

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Sadiq Khan{{cite news |title=EXCLUSIVE: 'Bitter-sweet' promotion for Sadiq Khan MP |url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/wandsworthnews/8167341.EXCLUSIVE___Bitter_sweet__promotion_for_Sadiq_Khan_MP/ |date=14 May 2010 |work=Wandsworth Guardian |accessdate=10 March 2013}}

| 75px

| 14 May 2010

| 8 October 2010

| Labour

|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Harman

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Maria Eagle{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ed-miliband/8050726/Ed-Miliband-unveils-shocks-in-shadow-cabinet-selection.html |title=Ed Miliband unveils shocks in shadow cabinet selections |work=The Telegraph |first=Rosa |last=Prince |date=8 October 2010 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}

| 75px

| 8 October 2010

| 7 October 2013

| Labour

| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Miliband

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Mary Creagh{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/07/coalition-government-reshuffle-the-full-list |title=Coalition government and Labour reshuffle |work=The Guardian |first=Paul |last=Owen |date=7 October 2013 |accessdate=7 October 2013}}

| 75px

| 7 October 2013

| 5 November 2014

| Labour

|-

| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=2 | Michael Dugher{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29918950 |title=Labour reshuffle: Dugher and Powell promoted by Ed Miliband |publisher=BBC News |date=5 November 2014 |accessdate=12 December 2014}}

| rowspan=2 | 75px

| rowspan=2 | 5 November 2014

| rowspan=2 | 13 September 2015

| rowspan=2 | Labour

|-

|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Harman II

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Lilian Greenwood

| 75px

| 13 September 2015

| 26 June 2016

| Labour

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Corbyn

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Andy McDonald

| 75px

| 27 June 2016

| 6 April 2020

| Labour

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Jim McMahon

| 75px

| 6 April 2020

| 29 November 2021

|Labour

|rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Starmer

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| Louise Haigh

| 75px

| 29 November 2021

| 5 July 2024

| Labour

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Helen Whately

| 75px

| 8 July 2024

| 5 November 2024

| Conservative

|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} | Sunak

|-

| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| Gareth Bacon

| 75px

| 5 November 2024

| Incumbent

|Conservative

|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |Badenoch

|}

Notes

{{reflist|group=n}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{UK Parliament Opposition Cabinet Offices}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transport, Shadow Secretary Of State For}}

Category:Official Opposition (United Kingdom)