FTA brings transport to heart of LibDem conference; eyes now fixed on Labour and the Conservatives
Thursday 22 September 2011
Following a successful Liberal Democrat conference, the Freight Transport Association looks to repeat the success of the 'Transport Hub' at both Labour and Conservative party conferences.
The message of Fair Fuel UK was expressed at the heart of the Lib Dem conference this week by TV motoring journalist Quentin Willson, when he spoke at the FTA fringe event; which dealt with the balance between affordable fuel, the fight against climate change and the economic recovery. Addressing an audience of Lib Dems, journalists and industry figures, Willson set out the compelling economic need to reduce fuel duty; highlighting the gathering public support for the campaign, which is now closing in daily on the necessary 100,000 signatures to trigger a parliamentary debate.
The Transport Hub enables each of its partner organisations to put their messages across to maximum effect while avoiding unwanted timetable clashes in what is set to be another hectic conference season. It has an even wider reach this year in terms of Hub partners and their specialist areas of transport expertise. This year’s partners comprise FTA, Association of British Travel Agents, ACT TravelWise, Airport Operators Association, British Parking Association, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, DHL, Kapsch TrafficCom and Keolis UK.
Once again Quentin will take centre stage at FTA’s fringe event at the upcoming Labour conference in Liverpool, where he will be joined by Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Broughton. He will then be joined by transport minister Theresa Villiers at the subsequent Conservative conference in Manchester.
Michael Webb, FTA’s Head of Public Affairs, said:
“This year’s Transport Hub has garnered a large number of partner organisations to bring a variety of transport interests to the heart of conference season. The variety of Transport Hub members and discussion topics has driven transport issues right to the centre of the discussion at the Liberal Democrat conference, as we are confident it will do for Labour and the Conservatives.
“It is vital for transport organisations to remind politicians of the importance of what they do and to demonstrate their vital role in the country’s economic recovery, and we look forward to taking this message further still in the next couple of weeks.”
Notes for editors
Visit www.transporthub.org for more information.
Upcoming Transport Hub 2011 events include the following:
Labour (Sunday 25–Tuesday 27 Sep)
Fringe events: ACC Liverpool (secure pass required)
Reception: Beatles Story Museum, Liverpool (no pass required)
Conservatives (Sunday 2–Tuesday 4 Oct)
Fringe events: Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (no pass required)
Reception: Midland Hotel, Manchester (secure pass required)
For further information on the Transport Hub please contact Michael Webb, FTA’s Head of Public Affairs on 01892 55222297, mobile 07818 450578, email mwebb@fta.co.uk
FTA Press Office
01892 552255
press.office@fta.co.uk
