As always, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has represented its members at political party conferences and raised awareness of the issues that face the coach and bus sector.
It was clear at the Labour conference that this is a party and leadership that feels it is on the up. The prospect of a Labour government has risen hugely over the past few weeks, and it is more important than ever that we engage with thinking within the party.
Two themes dominated conference discussion on buses: Regulation and decarbonisation. Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh made clear that a Labour government would seek to roll out franchising much more widely across England. The reality of franchising and the costs and benefits of reregulation will be a key part of our engagement with Labour in the coming months.
The conference also focused on the need to get people onto public transport, raised by multiple shadow ministers as a key factor in achieving net zero. Shadow Climate Change Minister Kerry McCarthy was in tune with this, pointing out the expense of electric vehicles and that taking public transport is a cheaper way of decarbonising travel for individuals. She also demonstrated understanding of issues that need to be addressed, such as driver shortages, if services are to work for communities.
I briefed Ms McCarthy on the importance of continued investment in both the transition to zero-emission vehicles and much-needed bus priority measures across the country, as Labour considers how to invest billions of pounds each year on accelerating decarbonisation.
Despite the visible unrest in the Conservative party at its conference, away from the limelight there were still important policy debates taking place regarding key areas for coach and bus.
While panellists at several events raised some interesting points about the sector, including the importance of modal shift to decarbonisation and economic prosperity, it was not a subject mentioned significantly by new ministers, so we will be working hard to ensure that our key issues remain on their agendas.
That includes Baroness Vere, who we welcome back as minister with responsibility for coaches and buses (and now, aeroplanes too). Having called on local authorities to make local transport plans, Lady Vere was asked about the potential for larger and long-term funding instead of pockets of grant support.
We will continue to push the government to move to a stable and long-term funding model for both Bus Service Improvement Plans and zero-emission vehicles, to ensure that the industry is positioned to deliver services that will attract people.
It was good to see Transport Committee Chair Huw Merriman and former Transport Minister Robert Courts debating the merits of road pricing, and the impact that it could have on the number of cars on our road and how it can be used to incentivise the transport we want to see. It is great to see how such a scheme could work being discussed in political circles. We will always work closely with any stakeholders on how schemes that encourage public transport use can be designed.
At the time of writing, the SNP conference has not yet taken place, but CPT will be present in Aberdeen. We will be exhibiting to highlight to delegates the value of the coach and bus sectors and their critical role in enabling many of the government’s policy objectives. CPT will be joined by operators and has secured time with key ministers and parliamentarians to make the case for a supportive policy framework and appropriate funding.
We will continue to work with all political parties to ensure that the essential role of coach and bus, and the work of our members, is not forgotten.
