Simon Lightwood MP
Biography
Simon Lightwood was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport in the Department for Transport on 9 July 2024. Simon was reappointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport in September 2025 with a new portfolio, Minister for Roads and Buses.
Previously Simon was Shadow Transport Minister, appointed first in October 2022 and re-appointed in September 2023 with an expanded portfolio.
Simon was first elected as MP for Wakefield in a by-election in June 2022 and was re-elected as MP for Wakefield and Rothwell in July 2024.
Prior to being elected, Simon was a proud NHS worker, a Labour councillor and cabinet member for public health. He studied theatre acting at Bretton Hall College in Wakefield after moving to the city in the late 90s.
His wider interests involve spending time with his husband and two young children and supporting his local Rugby League team, Wakefield Trinity.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Roads and Buses)
The Minister for Roads and Buses is responsible for:
- roads
- buses
- accessibility
- automated vehicles (AVs)
- motoring agencies
- micromobility