A Year in Westminster: Progress, Pressure and Delivery
By Ferdy Willans - RHA Public Affairs Manager
Against a backdrop of a still relatively new government, a Spending Review, major infrastructure decisions and growing pressure on our sector, the RHA has been firmly at the centre of the policy conversation.
From freight crime and road investment to skills, decarbonisation and international haulage, our focus this year has been clear: Making sure the voice of road transport is heard where decisions are made. Here are some of our highlights.
Infrastructure: Getting Roads Back on the Agenda
We started the year by setting out our stall. In January, we launched the Future of Roads Report at our parliamentary reception, calling on government to invest properly in England’s highways through a robust Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3). Our message was a straightforward one: Economic growth depends on reliable roads, targeted freight schemes, adequate lorry parking and a planning system that actually delivers.
Our message landed. The year saw major progress on schemes we have long championed. The Lower Thames Crossing received its Development Consent Order approval, a critical milestone for a project that will transform resilience and reliability across the national network. The Chancellor’s backing, followed by further funding announcements later in the Budget, was a clear signal that government understands the importance of this scheme for trade from ports like Felixstowe.
Other wins followed. Funding was confirmed for five strategic road schemes – including the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine and A46 Newark Bypass which we campaigned heavily on and featured in our Future of Roads Report. While not every scheme survived the review process, securing delivery on these priorities demonstrates the impact of sustained campaigning.
Senior politicians engaged directly with our members in Parliament, and we’ve been invited into strategic discussions on how the network is used by freight and coach operators day in, day out. With RIS3 now published in draft form, our focus has turned to ensuring limited funding is targeted where it will make the greatest difference.
Freight Crime: From Awareness to Action
If there is one area where momentum has truly shifted this year, it is freight crime.
In March, following years of leadership on this issue by the RHA’s public affairs team, Rachel Taylor MP, Chair of the APPG for Freight and Logistics, brought forward a Ten Minute Rule Bill calling for freight crime to be properly recognised in law. At the same time, new figures showed the scale of the problem starkly: fewer incidents overall, but a two-thirds increase in the value of goods stolen, driven by organised criminal gangs targeting high-value loads.
Our response has been relentless. We’ve driven media coverage, engaged MPs across parties, and worked closely with policing bodies. The result? A major breakthrough with more to come next year. The Home Office confirmed that a dedicated crime code for freight crime will be introduced in April. This is a significant win for the industry – allowing better reporting, better intelligence and more effective policing.
The launch of our freight crime media campaign built further pressure ahead of the Freight Crime Bill’s second reading. We started to see results with new national leadership within policing, stronger partnerships with enforcement bodies and expanded intelligence sharing with members all pointed to real progress. There is more to do, particularly on sentencing and funding for the police, but freight crime is no longer being ignored.
Skills, Decarbonisation and the Spending Review
The Spending Review was a defining moment for departmental funding for the next 5 years ahead. While we welcomed investment in skills and decarbonisation, we were clear about the challenges. Road investment remains under pressure, and our sector continues to face serious barriers to decarbonisation, with many operators unable to commit to zero-emission vehicles without clearer support and infrastructure.
We made the case directly to ministers and officials, including the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the time - Darren Jones MP, that logistics must be treated as foundational to economic growth. Our calls to continue HGV Skills Bootcamps, support SMEs, and invest in green infrastructure were backed by evidence from members across the country.
That engagement continued into the Budget later in the year, where we successfully shaped the debate on fuel duty, skills and freight crime funding – including securing national media coverage of our economic research.
Parliament, APPGs and Political Engagement
Parliamentary engagement has been a constant throughout the year. The APPG for Freight and Logistics has remained a vital platform, with sessions covering international haulage, freight crime, workforce diversity and driver welfare. Our “Attract, Train, Retain” evidence call brought together parliamentarians, officials, unions and operators to shape our next major report.
We’ve also engaged directly with ministers and Secretaries of State across Transport, the Cabinet Office, Business, DWP and the Treasury, as well constant engagement with MPs through constituency visits, roundtables and National Lorry Week. Those visits delivered tangible outcomes, from planning support to skills roundtables and action on freight crime, showing the value of connecting policymakers directly with operators.
Party Conference Season: Turning Presence into Influence
Conference season was where much of the year’s groundwork translated into real political access and momentum.
Labour Conference was particularly productive, with strong visibility across ministers, MPs and stakeholders. Our focus was skills, the 90/180 and Entry/Exit System, the Budget, and infrastructure needed to support growth and net zero. We met directly with the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, alongside ministers covering transport, energy, skills and intergovernmental relations, securing clear routes for follow-up engagement.
Parliamentary meetings centred on local infrastructure, supply chains, workforce issues and coaches, with MPs keen to continue engagement and host visits. We also met Sadiq Khan, Richard Parker and Kim McGuinness to discuss congestion, skills and SME support.
Our fringe event was well attended, featuring West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, APPG Chair Rachel Taylor MP, Business and Trade Select Committee Chair Liam Byrne MP and Dave Robertson MP, reinforcing the role of logistics as a driver of growth. In total, we met 16 target ministers (including the PM), 23 MPs and 3 mayors.
We also attended Conservative, Lib Dem and Reform conferences in full ensuring that our messaging was not just landing with the government, but with the parties which hold the government most closely to account.
The Budget: Cost Pressures, Growth and Fairness
The Autumn Budget was a major focus this year, with significant implications for road transport. Ahead of it, we submitted detailed representations to the Treasury, backed by independent research showing that a 5p rise in fuel duty would cost households £7.3bn, helping shape national media coverage and the wider debate.
Ahead of the Budget, we'd some very clear asks: Maintain the fuel duty freeze, avoid additional cost burdens on HGV operators, continue HGV Skills Bootcamps, fund policing to tackle freight crime, and support investment in cleaner vehicles and infrastructure, including extending full expensing to leased assets.
While the fuel duty freeze was extended in the short-term, the Budget signalled future rises alongside increases to the HGV Levy, VED and employment costs, adding pressure to businesses operating on tight margins. The government have however left themselves open to strong lobbying on fuel duty in the years to come – something that we will be doing vociferously next year.
There were positives. We welcomed new capital allowances, continued funding for road maintenance, further commitment to the Lower Thames Crossing, planning reforms to speed up infrastructure delivery, and targeted business support for Northern Ireland operators to help navigate the Windsor Framework, alongside ongoing investment in skills.
Looking Ahead
This year has shown what focused, consistent public affairs can deliver. We’ve turned long-standing issues into live policy debates, secured concrete wins, and built relationships that will matter for years to come.
The challenges facing our industry remain significant – but so does the opportunity. As we head into the next year, we'll keep pushing, keep engaging, and keep delivering for the businesses that keep the country moving.