Albert Booth surprise
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A MAJOR SURPRISE has been caused in the bus industry by former Shadow Transport Secretary Albert Booth's appointment as a full-time director with South Yorkshire PTE.
Mr Booth, who was Labour MP for Barrow-in-Furness from 1966 until he lost his seat at the general election in June, and who was Opposition transport spokesman from 1979, will occupy one of the three full-time directorships earning £22,000 a year. He was Employment Secretary in the last Labour Government.
His exact title and role at South Yorkshire have still to be confirmed, but he will occupy the vacancy which was created by the retirement of technical director Eric Kay in February. Mr Booth's pre-Parliamentary career was in engineering, as a former apprentice fitter and turner and later as a marine engineering draughtsman. He is 55 and was born in North Yorkshire.
Commenting on his appointment to SYPTE, whose fight to preserve its cheap fares policy is likely to bring it into close conflict with the Government, Mr Booth said: "I very much welcome the opportunity of working for South Yorkshire Transport, where the task of continuing to provide an efficient public transport system will require a great team effort in these challenging times."
• Further north, another senior PTE appointment has still to be filled. Tyne and Wear PTE director of engineering (Metro) David Howard is still acting director general, pending the appointment of a successor to dg Desmond Fletcher, who retired earlier this year. A PA Management consultancy report on the PTE's management structure is still being discussed by Tyne and Wear County Council, and the post has yet to be advertised. But one PA recommendation has already been fulfilled by making council chief executive Jim Gardiner non-executive chairman of the PTE, to bring the management of the PTE closer to the council.