Lord McLoughlin has had an extensive career in UK politics for more than 30 years, beginning in 1980 as a councillor on Cannock Chase District Council and then serving as the Member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales between 1986 and 2019. His experience in central Government included two years as Government Chief Whip from 2010 to 2012, four years as Secretary of State for Transport between 2012 and 2016, and two years as Chairman of the Conservative Party and Chancellor to the Duchy of Lancaster from 2016 to 2018. As Transport Secretary he oversaw key investments and work programmes, including the beginning of the Road Investment Strategy in 2014 and announcing Northern and TransPennine Express as winners of the rail franchises for the North in 2015. He took his seat in the House of Lords in 2020. Lord McLoughlin is also an Executive Board Member of XRAIL Group and Chairman of Airlines UK.