Mike Kane MP has been appointed the new Maritime Minister.
It comes following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement of new ministers after Labour’s landslide victory at the General Election last week.
Mr Kane MP succeeds Lord Byron Davies of Gower as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport, having served in the role for eight months.
Responding to the announcement, CEO of leading maritime charity the Merchant Navy Welfare Board Stuart Rivers said:
“We congratulate Mike Kane MP as the new Maritime Minister and look forward to working with him more closely.
“While there has been much change at Westminster following Labour’s landslide victory at the General Election, it’s imperative that, now more than ever, maritime charities join forces with UK Government, shipowners, trade unions and ports to help drive the welfare standards of seafarers.
“There are currently huge challenges in welfare provision for seafarers from connectivity struggles to improvement needed in facilities across UK ports. But the need for change presents the new government with a fantastic opportunity to bridge the gap in long-term welfare support at a fitting time for the industry.”
Mr Kane is the Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, and has been a MP continually since 13 February 2014. He was re-elected in the election on July 4 with a margin of more than 14,000 votes.
He also previously acted as the Shadow Minister for Maritime since 2020.
