Grant Shapps has been blasted for going “missing in action” as Britain’s airports grind to a halt, with the Liberal Democrats calling for the Transport Secretary to hold a daily press conference to update the public on travel chaos.
The party has called for Shapps to hold a daily briefing which would update on the latest situation at terminals up and down the country. He would be expected to outline steps that the Government is taking to work towards a resolution, as well as giving advice to travellers.
The Lib Dems are demanding that Shapps apologises to the public for failing to resolve the situation sooner with thousands of families already caught up in chaotic scenes at airports. Yesterday, the party’s transport spokesperson called for the Government to convene a meeting of COBRA to thrash out a plan to get airports moving again.
Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: “The scenes at our airports are nothing short of a disgrace. Families are being left marooned for hours on end with no guidance from airlines or Ministers.
“We need action now to break the deadlock and to save families from yet more travel carnage.
“Yet travellers haven’t even heard a peep from Grant Shapps this week. The Transport Secretary has gone missing in action when the public will be looking to him for help. This is nothing short of a failure of leadership on his part.
“It’s about time he fronts up for that failure with an apology to those who have had their travel plans derailed, and finally begins giving daily press conferences on the situation. Hiding away isn’t good enough – Shapps must face the music and scrutiny about his lack of preparedness for the Jubilee Bank Holiday logjam.”