Phillip Hammond has been named as the new Transport Secretary. He built up a reputation as an articulate and effective Commons performer since being elected MP for Runnymede and Weybridge in 1997.

A former director of companies supplying medical equipment, he was initially a member of the Conservative shadow health team before going on to serve as trade and industry spokesman. He also backed Michael Portillo's 2001 leadership bid.

In summer 2002, he went to shadow the now defunct Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and local government department before being made shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, at the age of 51, in the July 2007 reshuffle.

He will be Transport Secretary in the new cabinet, the brief shadowed by Theresa Villiers before the general election.