RHA engages with General Election candidates throughout UK

Throughout the election period, we have been meeting parliamentary candidates in key seats across the country. We do this because we believe that the best way to support our industry is to have a strong relationship with the main political parties and future MPs.

As part of this engagement process, we have organised visits for candidates and encouraged our members to contact their local candidates directly to raise their views and so future policy-makers recognise the vital role our sector plays in driving growth and keeping Britain’s supply-chain moving.

In total, fifteen candidates have visited RHA members over the past six weeks, including the Home Secretary James Cleverley and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The Leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer also visited a warehouse and distribution operator with his Derbyshire candidates yesterday just two days before the election. These high-profile visits highlight the importance of our sector to the UK’s economy.

Much of our focus has been on new candidates who are likely to enter parliament after the election. These prospective MPs will be key to our engagement programme going forward and building these relationships for the longer-term will be important in terms of Government and Parliament remaining engaged with our industry to tackle our six key campaigns.

HGVs, LVGs and Coaches are vital to Britain’s economic wellbeing. We want to collaborate with decision makers who understand the important role we play in creating jobs and keeping the economy moving. Industry collaboration with Government and Parliament will be key going forward if we’re to address current and future concerns facing our members such as rising costs and regulation, finishing vital infrastructure projects, plugging skills gaps, improving facilities and getting more clarity with a roadmap for net-zero.

We’ll continue to be a loud voice for our sector in the weeks, months and years ahead. In the post-election period, we’ll follow up with candidates who expressed an interest in the sector and in visiting local members where this was not possible in the pre-election period, and we look forward to working collaboratively with the next parliament and Government to address the challenges facing our industry.

Note: RHA Area and Operations Managers supported the policy and public affairs team with these visits across the UK, utilising their in-depth knowledge of issues facing members across the regions that they cover.