Working for our members: Party Conferences 2024

As we approach the autumn, Logistics UK is heading to the party conferences to raise the profile of our sector amongst policy makers and thought leaders.

Since we established our Public Affairs team early last year, we have been busy spreading the message that the logistics sector underpins the economy, safely and efficiently delivering for households, businesses and public services – and is crucial to growth.

With 2024 being an election year, there has been a whole host of opportunities to get our message across. Ahead of the election, we launched our manifesto, which sets out how policymakers can unleash the power of logistics to drive growth across the whole economy. With mayoral elections taking place in May, we also published manifestos for the Midlands, North of England and London, and shared our priorities for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too.

Since the formation of the new government, we have shared how our sector’s priorities can be taken forward as practical policies within Keir Starmer’s first 100 days in 10 Downing Street and through Rachel Reeves’s first budget. We also wrote to the Prime Minister, Chancellor and other new ministers to emphasise that our sector should regarded of as critical, national infrastructure that can play a key role in delivering the government’s missions, including kickstarting economic growth and getting the country building again.

Our main asks for the new government are to:

• Put logistics at the heart of the industrial strategy as an enabler of growth.
• Set out a long-term delivery plan for the infrastructure investment needed to move goods in the most productive, strategic and green way. This should be supported by planning reform and the identification of the national logistics network.
• Work with our sector to co-create a logistics roadmap to net zero, while ensuring policies support a fair transition that avoids inflationary cost pressures. As part of this, we do not want to see a rise in Fuel Duty, including as such a cost increase would inhibit the sector’s ability to invest, including in decarbonisation.
• Develop the skills partnerships needed to support the future of the logistics sector, and support this by continuing to co-fund the Generation Logistics campaign and by reforming the Apprenticeship Levy.
• Support trade growth, by taking measures to reduce border friction with the EU. This includes working with our sector to mitigate the impact of the latest and upcoming border changes, and to secure a comprehensive Veterinary
• Agreement for Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods.
• Support safe and efficient road freight, by working closely with our sector to develop evidence-based standards and regulations.

Since the election, we have attended a business leaders reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by the Prime Minister, which celebrated the partnerships between government and industry. At this reception, we met with Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and, since then, have met Minister for Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood, Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports Gareth Thomas and Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner MP, amongst others. This has all taken place as we continue to build engagement across the devolved nations.

As well as a new government, the general election has seen more than 300 MPs elected for the first time. We have written to all the MPs, both new and re-elected, congratulating them and highlighting our priorities. For relevant MPs, we have also flagged that they represent constituencies with large number of logistics roles.

This month we will be attending party conferences and have already been to the SNP conference, where Alexandra Herdman, Logistics UK Senior Policy Manager – Scotland asked the First Minister about what his priorities are for the sector. We also attended the Liberal Democrat conference, where I raised the challenge of increasing border friction with Sarah Olney MP, Spokesperson for Treasury and Business, and Sarah Olney called for the government’s industrial strategy to include an infrastructure plan.

Over the forthcoming two weeks, we will be at the Labour Party and Conservative Party conferences. We will be holding fringe panel events sponsored by DHL and SEGRO highlighting how logistics can drive growth across the UK economy. We have Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the Energy and Net Zero Committee, on our panel at Labour conference and Greg Smith MP, Shadow Transport and Business Minister, on our panel at Conservative conference. We are also partnering with Heathrow, Rail Freight Group, Rail Partners and the Port of Dover to host the Global Trade and Logistics reception at both conferences. If you are there and have a conference pass to enter the secure zone, come and say hello!

Shortly before conference season, we submitted our representation to the Autumn Budget, which will be delivered by the Chancellor on 30 October. Having worked closely with members, our top ask of the Treasury is to extend the five pence per litre cut in Fuel Duty beyond March 2025, to avoid inflationary cost pressures on the rest of the economy – while seeking HM Treasury collaboration on plans for the future of transport pricing – to ensure any new system works for the logistics sector.

Looking forward, alongside continuing to engage with ministers, we will be launching new thought leadership on the transport corridors that comprise the UK logistics network, and will be delivering activity to introduce more newly elected MPs to logistics, and the role our sector plays driving growth.

Published On: 19/09/2024 15:00:00

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