Jo Johnson (Boris’ brother) moved to DfT as Transport Minister – role re. Heathrow not yet clear
Jo Johnson (MP for Orpington) has been moved from his job as universities minister following a row over the appointment of Toby Young to the new universities regulator. Theresa May’s decision to appoint Jo Johnson as a transport minister at the DfT also sets up a potential conflict between him and his brother, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, over the expansion of Heathrow. Jo Johnson has replaced John Hayes as Transport Minister, so it is possible he will have responsibility for expanding Heathrow. Jo Johnson expressed his opposition to a 3rd Heathrow runway in 2011. John Hayes was expert in avoiding giving answers to any question on Heathrow. The DfT website just says: “Jo Johnson was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Transport and Minister for London on 9 January 2018. Jo was Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation from July 2016 to January 2018. He was elected Conservative MP for Orpington in May 2010 and re-elected in May 2015.” Boris Johnson has been a longtime vocal critic of a 3rd Heathrow runway. Jo Johnson has also been appointed minister for London ahead of what could be tough local elections in the capital in May this year for the Tories.
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DfT page – list of ministers and DfT management at the bottom:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport
Jo Johnson and Nusrat Ghani replace John Hayes and Paul Maynard.
The DfT organisation chart
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661885/dft-organisation-chart.pdf still shows John Hayes, but not Jo Johnson. Baroness Sugg is the Parliamentary Under Secretary, dealing with Aviation. She replaced Lord Callanan late in 2017.
The chart should soon be updated.
Quote against Heathrow 3rd Runway, by Jo Johnson, in 2011:
“It makes no sense to expand airports located in residential areas within the M25 when far better solutions exist elsewhere, such as in the Thames estuary. That’s why this government was right to veto a third runway at Heathrow ….” On Conservative Home
DfT website https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jo-johnson just says:
“Jo Johnson was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Transport and Minister for London on 9 January 2018. Jo was Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation from July 2016 to January 2018. He was elected Conservative MP for Orpington in May 2010 and re-elected in May 2015.”
Jo Johnson Moved From Universities Job In Reshuffle After Toby Young Row
Theresa May’s reshuffle also sets up Johnson versus Johnson fight over Heathrow.
By Ned Simons (Huffington Post)
9.1.2017
Jo Johnson has been moved from his job as universities minister following a row over the appointment of Toby Young to the new universities regulator.
Theresa May’s decision to appoint Jo Johnson as a transport minister also sets up a potential conflict between him and his brother, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, over the expansion of Heathrow.
Young, a journalist who has also set up free schools, early this morning announced he would not take up a position at the Office for Students amid a backlash over past comments about women, LGBT people and the disabled.
Despite his resignation, Jo Johnson continued to defend Young shortly before he was reshuffled by the prime minister on Tuesday afternoon.
Toby Young’s track record setting up & supporting free schools speaks for itself. His decision to stand down from the OfS board and repeat unreserved apologies for inappropriate past remarks reflects his character better than the one-sided caricature from his armchair critics.
Jo Johnson’s precise responsibilities at the Department for Transport have yet to be confirmed by the department, but it is possible he will have responsibility for expanding Heathrow.
Boris Johnson has been a longtime vocal critic of the plan to build another runway at the west London airport.
Jo Johnson, the MP for Orpington, has also been appointed minister for London ahead of what could be tough local elections in the capital this year for the Tories.
May’s attempt to refresh her Cabinet yesterday was partially derailed after Justine Greening resigned rather than accept a sideways move and Jeremy Hunt insisted on remaining as health secretary.
Today she is reshuffling the junior ministerial ranks. Brandon Lewis, the new Tory chairman, said the changes at lower levels would be a “breath of fresh air” for the government.
Mark Garnier, who was cleared of wrongdoing after asking his secretary to buy sex toys, has lost his job as an international trade minister.
Sam Gyimah has replaced Jo Johnson in his old job as universities minister.
Dominic Raab, who had served as a justice minister and has long been tipped for a promotion, has been handed the high profile housing minister brief.
Rory Stewart, who had served as a joint Foreign Office and development minister, has been made a justice minister.
Alok Sharma, who was housing minister in the wake of the Grenfell fire, has been made employment minister,
Harriett Baldwin has been moved from the Ministry of Defence to the Foreign Office. Caroline Dineage has been promoted from the department of work and pensions to become a senior health minister.
Casualties in the latest round of the overhaul include Robert Goodwill, who loses his job as minister for children and families, Philip Dunne who is removed as a health minister and John Hayes who is leaving the Department for Transport.
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