Party Conference Review – Transport
Ideology vs Delivery: What Party Conference 2025 revealed about UK transport policy
For the transport sector, this year’s party conference season confirmed its role as a critical enabler for the Government’s national and regional growth ambitions but also exposed some stark dividing lines on key issues.
In her keynote address at Labour Party Conference, Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander underpinned the opportunities the transport system presents, providing access to jobs, supporting families, and maintaining connections. This society-centric rhetoric – nuanced with transport’s ability to raise living standards and improve lives across the country – will be a key feature to help businesses achieve cut through with Government as it seeks to restore trust among voters in all parts of the country, demonstrate it can deliver and stave off the growing threat of Reform.
In contrast, the Conservatives framed transport around pragmatism and delivery rather than ideology, focusing on what works for passengers and the economy. They backed competition and reform on the railways, supported airport growth that balances economic and environmental aims, and favoured a market-led transition to electric vehicles that drives innovation without adding costs for consumers. The overall message was one of realism and steady progress, offering a vision people can trust to improve their lives.
Meanwhile, Reform’s pitch made clear that the party is focused on ensuring transport policy delivers tangible benefits for local communities and their needs, rather than funding so-called ‘white elephant’ projects that absorb time and money without meaningful returns. Combined with an anti–Net Zero sentiment, their approach places passengers and consumers at the heart of decision-making, prioritising visible, everyday improvements over grand market, ideological or statist ambitions.
Aviation – balancing growth, local concerns and environmental targets
A clear gap is emerging between the government’s pro-growth agenda for aviation and the concerns voiced by local MPs, notably West London’s Ruth Cadbury, Chair of the Transport Select Committee. While the Chancellor continues to back expansion at Heathrow and Gatwick, Cadbury used Conference to warn that MPs are under pressure from constituents over noise, congestion and environmental impacts. Airports who joined her on panels, including Heathrow, recognise these concerns and accept that future growth depends on meeting robust environmental standards.
Cadbury’s broader message was that the UK needs a national aviation strategy to correct the current South East focus and unlock the potential of regional airports to drive connectivity and growth. Pointing to the planned reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport as a rare example of local ambition being realised, she argued that a coherent national strategy must balance support for international routes from regional airports with the need to strengthen domestic connectivity and tourism.
Looking ahead to how we address the environmental challenges posed by aviation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel is seen as central to achieving long-term, sustainable growth. Progress in the UK remains slow, with limited short-term impact. In the meantime, airports like Heathrow are introducing charges to encourage the use of alternative fuels, showing the industry’s willingness to adapt. But without clear national direction, leadership on aviation’s future remains fragmented and uncertain.
Amid these debates, newly appointed Aviation Minister Keir Mather had a visible presence at Conference, speaking at several fringe events to reiterate the government’s position on airport expansion. His contributions were measured, but privately, industry figures were quietly impressed, describing him as engaged, pragmatic and keen to build confidence in the government’s approach to aviation growth.
It was against this backdrop that Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden sought to draw a clear political dividing line, accusing Labour of “taxing travel out of reach” through higher Air Passenger Duty and a “stealth tax bonanza” on mobility. He framed aviation as central to economic growth and personal freedom, calling airports vital to the UK’s growth story but stressing that expansion must respect local communities and environmental concerns. By promoting affordable access and global links, he signalled the Conservatives’ intent to reclaim the pro-growth narrative and reassert the party as champions of opportunity in travel and trade.
By comparison, Reform’s aviation policy platform is firmly in the development stage. Speaking at the Party’s Business Reception, sponsored by Heathrow Airport, Nigel Farage announced plans for a new Aviation Strategy to back both airport expansion and the growth of regional airports and domestic aviation as drivers of national prosperity. He argued that excessive regulation and Net Zero policies have constrained the sector and positioned aviation as a core pillar of Reform’s pro-growth agenda, calling for unrestricted expansion to boost competitiveness and create jobs in stark contrast to the Conservatives’ more measured approach.
Rail reform – ideology vs delivery for passengers
With several high-profile rail commitments trailed ahead of Conference, including dates to bring West Midlands Trains and Govia Thameslink Rail into public ownership and a pledge to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, there was plenty for Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Rail Minister Lord Hendy to showcase. Yet the government’s delivery narrative was overshadowed by news that performance on the recently nationalised South Western Railway had fallen by around 50% since coming into state ownership.
It is also impossible to ignore the ever-increasing timeline for the formation of Great British Railways, which is stalling industry confidence in the Government’s ability to deliver an effective arms-length body to drive its ambitious agenda through. Conference saw Hendy deliver welcome news that the Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy is now underway, which will establish a long-term plan for electrification, with the Minister acknowledging that the UK is falling behind European counterparts.
While Alexander and Hendy were keen to demonstrate political will to advance rail reform, the Department’s ability to deliver tangible improvements for the railways and their passengers within this parliamentary term remains under scrutiny. As the wider government prioritises cutting quangos to drive growth, pressure is mounting on the Department for Transport to prove that Great British Railways is worth both the political capital and the voter goodwill invested in it.
The Conservative Shadow Team used Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden’s speech, fringe events and private dinners to reaffirm support for competition and passenger choice, highlighting the need to protect Open Access services in the forthcoming Railways Bill. They also called for freight to be fully integrated into the Bill, reflecting its role as an engine of economic growth. In contrast, Holden criticised Labour’s approach as overly influenced by trade unions and rooted in a statist centralising mentality. He framed rail not as an ideological battleground but as a space for pragmatic reform, focused on reliability, value for money, and giving passengers and operators greater freedom to deliver results.
On rail, Reform’s message was clear: scrap HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail and prioritise local and regional connectivity. Deputy Leader Richard Tice dismissed the project as “HS Stupid 2,” arguing instead for “oven-ready” investment in regional rail and bus networks that deliver visible benefits for communities. This local-first approach reflects Reform’s broader transport stance, rejecting large-scale, centralised infrastructure schemes in favour of practical improvements that voters can see and use.
Competing visions for the road to Electric Vehicles
The Government’s approach to the EV transition is an increasing dividing line between Reform UK and the Conservatives, the latter of whom used Conference to reignite their accusation of Labour’s “war against motorists.” While EVs were not a centrepiece for the Secretary of State’s speech, the outgoing Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood spoke enthusiastically about the Government’s achievements to date, such as the Electric Car Grant and reinstatement of the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles. This comes against a backdrop of record high BEV registrations for August, which should give the Government some confidence in the response from consumers.
Nonetheless, industry is hungry for more ambition, with pressure mounting on Reeves to increase taxes on carbon intensive vehicles like SUVs, boost incentives for UK manufacturers to bring forward more affordable models and increase support for the second and third-hand market. Despite overall market growth, the Government still faces several challenges around affordability, misinformation, and public charging capacity, which continue to represent the biggest barriers to mass market adoption.
On electric vehicles, the Conservatives set out a pragmatic, market-led stance. Holden reaffirmed opposition to Labour’s 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, calling it economically damaging and ideologically driven. However, Transport Select Committee member, Rebecca Smith added that EVs are not suitable for everyone, highlighting challenges for rural drivers and those without access to charging infrastructure. Both argued for consumer choice and credible alternatives, positioning the Conservatives as supportive of decarbonisation but opposed to rigid mandates that penalise drivers.
Reform’s conference reinforced the party’s scepticism about the future of electric vehicles. Across several fringe events, speakers attacked Net Zero targets and questioned the need to cut transport emissions, instead championing domestic energy production under the banner of “drill baby drill.” This stance sat alongside their rejection of subsidies and regulation to accelerate EV uptake, which they argued distort the market and penalise petrol and diesel drivers. Overall, Reform’s position reflects a broader resistance to decarbonisation policy in favour of energy independence and consumer choice.
What’s next?
The months ahead promise to be pivotal for UK transport. Having staked much on infrastructure as a driver of growth, the Government will be looking for signs of early returns as the Budget approaches. The Railways Bill is expected to land early November, shaping the future of the UK’s rail network, while debates around electric vehicles and aviation will continue to intensify, testing whether ambition can translate into delivery.