Public Affairs monitoring for week ending 9 October 2026

Conservative Party Conference: Badenoch outlines plans to reduce barriers to growth as Logistics UK champions competitiveness

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch used her party conference speech on 7 October to argue that the planning, tax and energy systems are holding back businesses and economic growth. She pledged to reduce business regulation, repeal measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025 and support the expansion of Heathrow Airport. She also announced plans to halve employer National Insurance contributions for employees aged between 21 and 24, alongside proposals to reduce inheritance tax on people’s main homes.

At the conference, Logistics UK, SEGRO and Arden Strategies hosted a panel discussion on 5 October with Shadow Development Minister Wendy Morton MP, Thomas Turrell AM, Conservative Transport Lead on the London Assembly, Neil Impiazzi of SEGRO and Logistics UK President Phil Roe. The discussion focused on unlocking investment, improving connectivity, reducing business costs, improving planning, and strengthening the UK’s international competitiveness. The panel also discussed the importance of improving facilities for drivers, attracting more people into logistics careers and recognising the contribution modern logistics developments make to productivity, job creation and local communities.

Logistics UK President Phil Roe also hosted a Global Trade and Logistics Roundtable on 5 October with Shadow Transport Minister Alison Griffiths MP and representatives from the UK’s ports, airports, rail freight, shipping and international trade sectors. Participants discussed reducing trade friction, attracting private investment, strengthening supply chain resilience and ensuring that ports, airports and freight corridors have the connectivity needed to support trade-led growth. The Logistics UK team also met Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden MP, Shadow Transport Minister Greg Smith MP and Shadow Defence Minister David Reed MP to discuss the organisation’s priorities, including its key asks ahead of the Budget.

Also this week

Government

• Chancellor John Healey was reported on 6 October to be considering an intervention of more than £1 billion in this month’s Budget to reduce energy bills, primarily for lower-income households receiving certain benefits, amid forecasts that bills could rise by hundreds of pounds in January.

Parliament

• Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on 9 October with 12,292 votes, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who received 8,928 votes. The Conservatives finished third with 1,922 votes, while turnout was 38.76%. The by-election followed the resignation of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Polanski has vowed to continue as leader.
• Logistics UK responded to the Transport Committee’s inquiry that closes on 16 October on how transport affects young people’s ability to access employment and training. The submission highlights that many logistics jobs can be difficult to reach by public transport, meaning vacancies can remain inaccessible to young people. It argues that transport connectivity should be treated as a labour market participation issue and improving access to logistics roles would help tackle youth unemployment while supporting the sector’s long-term workforce needs.

Devolved, regional and local

• The Court of Appeal overturned a ruling on 6 October that prevented work on the A5 Western Transport Corridor in Northern Ireland, removing a significant legal obstacle to the major road upgrade. Logistics UK welcomed the decision and called for construction to begin as soon as possible, highlighting the scheme’s potential to improve road safety and connectivity, strengthen supply chains and unlock economic opportunities for communities and businesses across the region.
• The Tees Valley Combined Authority agreed on 7 October to submit a £24 million transport connectivity plan covering the region’s five local authority areas. The proposals aim to improve connections to major regeneration projects in each borough and form part of a wider £1.3 billion transport and infrastructure programme. The funding will support the region’s 10-year local growth plan, including its priorities for skills, jobs, transport, housing and development.
• Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper MS met Logistics UK Chief Executive Ben Fletcher, Senior Policy Manager for Trade, Customs and Borders Josh Fenton and member Operations Manager Ian Jarman from AMS Commercials to discuss priorities for the Welsh logistics sector on 7 October. The meeting covered the proposed M4 relief road, delivery of the Maritime and Logistics Plan and the establishment of a Welsh Logistics Council, as well as the economic, skills, infrastructure and planning policies needed to support logistics and supply chains across Wales.

Other

• The Institute for Government warned on 6 October that England’s fragmented school system risks undermining the government’s education agenda, calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to establish a clearer long-term vision for school governance.

Coming up

• On Monday 12 October at 4:30pm, Tony Vaughan (Labour, Folkestone and Hythe) secured a debate on the UK applying to rejoin the EU.
• On Monday 12 October at 3:45pm, the Railways Bill continues its committee stage in the House of Lords.
• On Monday 12 October at 3:30pm, the Public Accounts Committee has a session on the resilience of the UK’s food supply to disruption. With representatives of the British Retail Consortium, Food and Drink Federation and the agricultural and academic sectors.
• On Tuesday 13 October at 11:30am, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will answer oral questions in the House of Commons.
• On Tuesday 13 October at 4pm, the Transport Committee has a session on the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement from representatives of local community groups, Back Heathrow, the Colne Valley Regional Park Trust and the Climate Change Committee.
• On Wednesday 14 October at 9:15am, the Transport Committee has a session on the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement from representatives of Heathrow West, Stantec UK and Heathrow Airport Limited.
• On Wednesday 14 October at 3pm, the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee has a session with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh MP and the department’s Permanent Secretary Jonathan Brearley on the Department’s work.
• On Thursday 15 October, Baroness Teather (Liberal Democrat) secured a debate on growing threats to UK food security.
• On Thursday 15 October, the Highways (Financing) Bill has its second reading in the House of Commons.
• Members are encouraged to feed into the Liberal Democrats two calls for evidence by the end of November: one on reducing red tape for British Businesses, including roundtables across the country; and a second on getting their plans to get Britian growing again.

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