Former Transport Secretary to be honoured by university

Former Transport Secretary and Derbyshire Dales MP Lord McLoughlin is set to receive an honorary degree from the University of Derby.

Lord McLoughlin will receive the honour at the university’s awards ceremony in Buxton on Friday, alongside hundreds of graduates.

In addition to representing the Derbyshire Dales constituency, Lord McLoughlin held various ministerial roles in government, serving as Opposition and then Government Chief Whip, Chairman of the Conservative Party, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State for Transport.

He was knighted in 2016, became a Companion of Honour in 2019, and was created Baron McLoughlin of Cannock Chase in the County of Staffordshire in 2020, taking his seat in the House of Lords.

After retiring from politics, he was appointed Chair of Transport for the North in 2022 – this focuses on reliable, cost-effective and sustainable transport.

Lord McLoughlin has a close relationship with the rail sector and throughout his various ministerial and private sector roles has promoted the importance of the sector to the UK economy.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “It is a pleasure to be celebrating the successes of all of our graduates, and to acknowledge Lord McLoughlin’s achievements in public service with this honorary degree.

“It also recognises his commitment to the rail industry in Derby, which is both a core strength of the city and an area of focus for the university, with its Rail Research and Innovation Centre supporting and encouraging innovation and collaboration within the region’s supply chains.”

Lord McLoughlin said: “Effective transport is vital to all areas of Britain’s economy and central to this is the rail industry, from designing and building trains and their infrastructure to running them on a daily basis.

“The region has a long and proud history in this area, which I hope it will continue to develop.

“I am very pleased the university is helping to carry this forward and I am delighted to be awarded this honorary degree.”