Transport secretary Grant Shapps sacked by new PM

Former transport secretary Grant Shapps

Shapps was appointed in 2019 but loses job in reshuffle by Liz Truss

Grant Shapps, the UK's transport secretary, has been sacked by newly appointed prime minister Liz Truss.

Shapps, who has been the government’s roads boss since 2019, was removed just hours after Truss took office having beaten rival Rishi Sunak – who Shapps had backed – in the Conservative Party’s leadership election.

A replacement for the role has not yet been appointed, but an announcement is expected in the coming hours (6 September).

Taking to Twitter, Shapps said: “It has been a privilege to serve as Transport Secretary; a job I loved. 

“Now I look forward to being a strong, independent voice on the backbenches, developing policies that will further the Conservative cause.”

Shapps will be remembered for a number of controversial decisions, including scrapping electric car subsidies in June while fuel prices soared to record levels across the country. 

He was also one of the main drivers behind the smart motorways scheme, despite confirming they were “anything but” safe in an interview last year. 

It is unsure if the scheme will continue when a new minister takes the role, with Ms Truss proclaiming her ambition to scrap the project if they're "not working".

The new secretary is also expected to follow a strict brief from Ms Truss, who has stated her plans to scrap speed limits on UK motorways in an Autobahn-style system.

*This is a breaking story, with more information to follow.*