Simon Lightwood MP

☕ Dad-taxi update: pubs get a pint-sized boost 🍺, housing fees capped 🏠, £150 Warm Home Discount 💡, AI tutors for kids 🤖, early cancer checks 🩺, police tech upgrade 👮, free AI training for adults. #PlanForChange

I was delighted to be in Newcastle this week to see the unveiling of 29 brand-new Go North East electric buses alongside Mayor Kim McGuiness.

They will ensure passengers in the North East can enjoy smoother, greener journeys and marks yet another step in the government's bus revolution.

And to @simonlightwood.org.uk for a fantastic keynote speech to start the evening, setting out the Government’s aims for a joined up, safe and seamless network.

An inspiring night for the UK transport tech sector.

#ITSUKAwards25

We’ve secured £𝟐𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 in long-term funding for 𝐋𝐮𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐭 through Labour’s Plan for Neighbourhoods - that’s £2 million every year for the next decade

This is a game-changing investment that will deliver real improvements where they’re needed most.

How should we spend this money?
www.lovelupset.com

Great to visit Star Coaches in Batley ahead of RHA's #NationalCoachWeek.

Coaches support 42,000 jobs & transport 600,000 students daily, so we’re engaging industry to understand how we can back its growth to boost our economy and open up opportunity!

Simon out campaigning with local Labour Party members in Doncaster

Wonderful to be out campaigning in the glorious sunshine in #Doncaster for our Labour council candidates and the fabulous Ros Jones - who is the only candidate for mayor with the plan & experience to #Deliver4Doncaster! #VoteLabour 🌹🔆

Honoured to unveil a plaque for Jill Viner, London's trailblazing first female bus driver.

Women make up 50% of bus passengers but just 12% of drivers - so we're supporting Women in Bus and Coach to encourage better representation and make buses even more inclusive 🚍

Simon signing the volunteer wall

Great to be out on the doorstep in sunny Runcorn and Helsby today, campaigning for our fantastic Labour candidate Karen Shore. #VoteLabour 🌹

Every local authority in England must now report the number of potholes they fix to unlock their share of £500m extra funding.

This will allow councils to fill the equivalent of 7 million potholes annually, as part of the Government's Plan for Change. 🚧💷

Simon sitting on a replica of the House of Commons green benches

It was great to chat recently to Tim Deakin, Editor of @routeone.bsky.social about all things bus and coach.

Kicked off our first UK bus manufacturing expert panel today, uniting bus makers, Metro Mayors, & industry leaders to make our bus industry cleaner and greener

By supporting manufacturing, we're boosting fleets, regional economies and living standards for a zero-emission future

🇬🇧 We joined Local Transport Minister @simonlightwood.org.uk in Sheffield today to launch the first UK Bus Manufacturing Panel. Prioritising the manufacture of zero-emission buses across the UK will support skilled jobs and apprenticeships and deliver economic benefits for local communities.

UTG Policy Advisor Monta Drozdova and Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, with two buses in the background, in Sheffield.

We're pleased to join Government's new UK Bus Manufacturing Panel, which launched today in Sheffield, to boost green buses and create jobs.

Our Policy Advisor Monta Drozdova joined Local Transport Minister @simonlightwood.org.uk for the launch.

Full story 👇

urbantransportgroup.org/resources/ty...

"A truly integrated way to make transport work for people.”

@simonlightwood.org.uk and @chrisboardman.bsky.social visited Stockport Interchange, a new transport hub bringing together bus, rail, walking and cycling routes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fdE... 🚌🚄👟🚲

Jess Phillips reads names of UK women killed by men last year, including the Hunt family | ITV News YouTube video by ITV News

youtube.com/watch?v=-owK...

Sadly, another year when @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social reads the list of women killed by men. Tragic BUT Jess now taking real tangible actions to reduce this number. No one has more passion for this challenge.

Simon Lightwood MP (standing on the far right) with staff and pupils from St Austin's Primary School and Living Streets' mascot Strider. They are standing outside the school gates.

🚸 A huge thanks to @simonlightwood.org.uk for joining us this morning at St Austin's Primary School in Wakefield.

Nearly half of journeys logged by pupils are walked or wheeled all the way to the school gates – an outstanding achievement! 🚶 👩‍🦽

www.livingstreets.org.uk/press-media/...

Simon riding on a bike at the Stockport interchange

Simon touring the Stockport interchange with local representatives

Simon joined by Olympic champion and national integrated transport commissioner Chris Boardman and local officials at Stockport interchange

Simon discussing the efforts undertaken at Stockport interchange to avoid antisocial behaviour

Today is a brilliant day for cycling & walking 🚲🚶‍♀️

We’re investing almost £300m to build 300 miles of new cycle lanes & walkways all over 🇬🇧

Leading to 43k less sick days to ease pressure on our NHS & make lives better, healthier & happier as part of our #PlanforChange 👍

Simon Lightwood on stage speaking at the INTS roadshow

Simon Lightwood on stage speaking at the INTS roadshow. Audience in foreground of the photo

Today I launched a regional tour to shape our Integrated National Transport Strategy.
 
We’re learning from communities across the country to build a seamless, accessible transport system for all.
 
rb.gy/y3yxb9

Transport minister visits Ipswich to see school scheme Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, has welcomed the transport minister to the Suffolk town.

It was great to visit Gusford to see the opportunities on offer through @bikeabilityuk.bsky.social - I'd encourage other schools to take up the scheme too!

Thank you to @simonlightwood.org.uk for coming to Ipswich to see how the Government is making a real difference to our town.

Simon signing the book of commitment.

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day.

It's also the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

I was proud to sign the Book of Commitment on behalf of my constituents.

I pledge to always remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust.

Locals to 'take back control' of buses with bill to be debated by peers Labour's long-promised buses bill will scrap Thatcher-era rules banning local councils from running their own bus services

Locals to 'take back control' of buses with bill to be debated by peers www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Simon speaking at the expo. Standing at a podium with a microphone

Simon sitting in the audience with other speakers.

It was a pleasure to address the ‘From Service to Success - How the Armed Forces community can strengthen your workforce’ - expo last week in Wakefield.

Our armed forces community and veterans have a huge contribution to make to our workforce 👍

Local Transport Minister - Simon Lightwood MP speaking at the podium of CPT conference 2025.

Brilliant to speak at the @CPT_UK conference today!

Buses and coaches are crucial to economic growth 🚌 📈

That’s why we’re determined to work with industry to attract investment, support jobs and continue to roll out electric buses - helping deliver our plan for change

Thank you Minister @simonlightwood.org.uk for getting on the saddle with Bikeability in Suffolk.
Through the backing of vital programmes like Bikeability, we can be sure that the next generation has what it needs to make cycling part of their everyday life.

Congratulations @andyburnham.bsky.social and everyone at the Bee Network for leading the way! 🐝

This government is fast-tracking the journey to better buses.

Our Bus Services Bill will give local authorities more control over routes, timetables, connections and fares 🚍

Tonight, the Government held a reception to mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, putting this important issue firmly in the spotlight.

Too often, women feel unsafe including when travelling on our transport networks, and we're working hard to change this.

Today marks an important step forward as we extend powers for local authorities to bring buses back under public control.

I’ve just signed the legislation to expand the tools available to deliver better bus services in every community 🚌.

Image of crumbling Great Britain with press clippings. THIS IS THE BRITAIN THE TORIES LEFT BEHIND Spending Watchdog Backs Up Labour's Claim Tories Left A Black Hole In Public Finances Huffington Post, September 2024 NHS waiting list hits record high of almost 7.8m The Independent, October 2023 Braverman tells Tories to "take responsibility' for not building enough prisons Independent, July 2024 Tories tried to hide extent of sewage spills before election The Times, August 2024 Police abandoned an investigation every 13 seconds last year without finding a suspect The Telegraph, June 2024 UK asylum backlog rose before election despite Sunak pledge to cut numbers The Guardian, August 2024 More than 40,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since Sunak promised to stop the boats The Telegraph, June 2024

Never forget.
Never again.

Fantastic news that The Rail Public Ownership Bill has now been passed by Parliament!

It's a landmark Bill and the first major step towards publicly owned Great British Railways, which will put passengers first and drive up standards. 🚂

The truth about Labour's Budget and farmers The change announced in the Budget will not impact the majority of farmers. Estates worth up to £3 million could still be passed on by a couple completely free of inheritance tax. Where inheritance tax does apply, farmers will still pay 50% less inheritance tax than everyone else. Heirs can spread the payment over 10 years interest-free instead of having to pay it all at once. The policy is about protecting smaller family farms while ensuring the wealthiest landowners pay their fair share. Our public services need fixing and the wealthiest should be the ones who bear the greatest burden so we can do that. Farmers will benefit from £5 billion being invested into farming over the next two years - the largest amount ever directed towards sustainable food production in our country's history.

This is the truth about Labour's Budget and farmers.