These are some of the candidates the travel industry suggest would be a “top candidate” for Sunak’s new transport secretary, as the sector voices its frustration at the political chaos and damage wrought on the economy.
TTG readers were polled ahead of Rishi Sunak being crowned prime minister this week, and were asked if they believed Sunak was the best person to be prime minister.
While 40% agreed he was, 45% replied no, insisting it is time for a general election.
Meanwhile 3% favoured Penny Mordaunt and 12% said they wished Boris Johnson had run.
Despite this, 71% said they believed Sunak taking over as PM would “ease the UKs recent erratic economic outlook”.
Is Rishi Sunak, from a travel industry perspective, the best person to be prime minister?
When asked how Sunak could help travel businesses, respondents to TTG’s poll didn’t seem to have much faith in the new PM. “He won’t [help]. He didn’t during Covid and he won’t now’, replied one.
Others were more hopeful: “Appoint a minister for outbound travel, and then educate to ensure government knows how we operate. Lower corporation tax so that companies can invest and grow.”
A few suggested the UK should rejoin the EU while one simply said Sunak should “work in a travel agency for a couple of days”.
Respondents were however more candid when it came to who should be appointed the new transport secretary.
Aside from the more humorous suggestions, others argued for Boris Johnson while a few even wanted Grant Shapps to return (although some insisted “anyone else but Shapps”).
Chair of the transport committee Huw Merriman was also put forward as well as travel figures such as ex Kuoni boss Derek Jones and Simon Calder, while one respondsent said simply: “A politician with a few brain cells and a modicum of integrity… no one springs to mind”.
It was Twitter that perhaps had the most sensible suggestion yet for a new travel related position though….
https://twitter.com/lewispringle/status/1584929272372015104
Sunak may not be introducing this position any time soon but he has brought Grant Shapps back – this time as business secretary, where he will effectively be the minister for package holidays.
Elsewhere Forest of Dean MP and former accountant Mark Harper has been named transport secretary, taking over from Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who was appointed at the start of September by former prime minister Liz Truss.
Find out more about who Harper is here.
What are your thoughts about Sunak’s new cabinet? Let us know below.
