BUSINESS NEWS


Aviation and maritime minister Keir Mather


Tourism minister Stephanie Peacock


Experienced ministers give way to ‘new talent’


Analysis: Reshuffle sees ‘engaged’ veterans depart, reports Ian Taylor


The replacement of the aviation and tourism ministers in a reshuffle last week need not signal a downgrading of government attention on the sector given transport secretary Heidi Alexander signed off on expansion at Gatwick on Sunday. But the industry has lost two


knowledgeable and highly engaged ministers who hit the ground running following Labour’s election victory in July last year. Aviation minister Mike Kane


was already well known in aviation, having been shadow minister since


48 25 SEPTEMBER 2025


2020. He was quick to point out his constituency includes Manchester airport and acted as speedily as anyone in government might to introduce a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate from January and consult on a revenue certainty mechanism for SAF producers. Similarly, tourism minister Sir


Chris Bryant endeared himself to the inbound and domestic sectors with his enthusiasm and energy, insisting he wanted “to see the UK rival France for inbound tourists” and attract 50 million international


visitors a year by 2030. Bryant also cheered the outbound sector – despite having multiple responsibilities at two departments as minister for data protection and telecoms as well as for creative industries, arts and tourism – by insisting: “I’m also concerned about outbound. It’s a significant part of the industry.” Their replacements are not just less


well known but know less about the industry. New aviation and maritime


Continued on page 46 travelweekly.co.uk


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PICTURES: UK Parliament/House of Commons


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