Compared to other topics, transport, particularly road transport was relatively low on the priority list for conference fringe events. Many of the fringe events were on housing, the economy, health and skills.  

Most transport panels and conversations focused on rail, buses/public transport, and active travel. There was a stark absence of industry representatives for road transport, and a lack of voice on topics such as private vehicle transport, transport infrastructure, resilience, climate change adaptations, road safety, smart motorways, and transport related social exclusion.  

Several panels were attended that focused on implementation of road safety measures, particularly Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), and generally these promoted images of an idyllic family experience of walking with children to school on a leafy autumnal day. However, many of the discussion points raised were specific to urban areas or large towns and may not be applicable in all contexts. 

Many of the panels Sue and Liberty attended, reiterated points that seemed to demonise the motorist and promote blanket recommendations of active travel and public transport, regardless of region, location, feasibility or funding required.  

Whilst CIHT recognises that there is a push towards the ‘green agenda’ and promoting public transport and active travel for health, motorised vehicles must remain part of these conversations, and all these transportation methods require well-maintained roads.  

Fringe events attended included:  

• The Public Transport Reception – CPT and Porterbrook  

• The Metro Mayor Reception – Labour in Business, ABI, Vuelio, NatWest 

• Reception - Labour in Communications and Trainline 

• The Local Transport In-Tray: what can Labour do to facilitate a transport infrastructure that works for everyone? (Bolt, TfGM)  

• How Can Labour Government and Labour Mayors and Councils Work Together to Deliver Active Travel Infrastructure? (Labour Environment Campaign – SERA with Labour Walks and Cycles and the Active Wellbeing Society)  

• Safer Streets: Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour locally (The Labour Party)  

• How can Labour close the Infrastructure Skills Gap Facing the UK? (New Statesman and Pennon Group)  

Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh MP - Speech Labour Party Conference 2024  

14 years of potholes, protracted strikes and empty promises.

Her speech addressed perceived shortcomings of the current transport networks, including issues such as potholes, cancelled bus routes, disruptions to the daily lives of commuters, and the subsequent impact on businesses. 

Haigh described the UK transport networks as:

A symbol of national decline, of a country that no longer works.. a government that had no plan or any interest in fixing it

Rail renationalisation was high on the agenda list, with the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill 2024-25, in addition to other divisive industry topics such as:

…call[ing] time on divisive culture wars around walking and cycling. Repealed the toxic Minimum Service Level legislation. Greenlit hundreds of affordable homes by stations…

Buses were additionally a significant focus in Haigh's speech, in which she criticised private operators for selecting routes and services without community oversight. She emphasised the importance of the Better Buses Bill 24/25 and the potential prohibition on public ownership of bus companies. 

Haigh’s final remarks outlined potential hope for infrastructure investment. There were some hints that in the forthcoming Spending Review in October that infrastructure spending will be reviewed and some new funding announced.  

CIHT is pleased to hear that the government will be working cross departmentally to ‘deliver a 10-year infrastructure strategy which supports growth’.

We hope this will contain an investment strategy for local roads and provide clear, long-term aims on how we will use the transport network and support this with long-term transport investment, as called for in the CIHT manifesto ‘A Transport Network Fit for All our Futures’.  

CIHT looks forward to continuing to engage with the Secretary of State for Transport on the policy priorities outlined in her conference speech.  

Louise Haigh’s full speech is available to watch here. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer - Speech at Labour Party Conference 

Change was a large theme in the Prime Minister's conference speech.  

New planning regulations featured in the speech, building on the recent changed to the National Policy Planning:

Introducing new planning passports that will turbo-charge housebuilding in our inner cities.

Further announced in his speech was Apprenticeship reform. Earlier that day Starmer and Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson MP announced the new growth and skills levy.  

More information on the new growth and skills levy is available to read here.  

CIHT looks forward to continuing to engage with the Prime Minister and his team on the policy, economic and growth priorities outlined in his conference speech.  

Keir Starmer’s full speech is available to read here.  

CIHT looks forward to following up on all conference activity and continuing to engage and work with the government on transport priorities that benefit society, the environment, and the economy.