As the 2025 party conference season draws to a close, the overriding impression is that every party entered the autumn with something to prove. For Labour, as the governing party, the priority was delivery – albeit with a little distraction provided by speculation about Andy Burnham's leadership ambitions. For the Conservatives and Kemi Badenoch, it was a question of survival, while for the Liberal Democrats it was all about proving relevance while not upsetting the apple cart. And then there was Reform UK – whose two-day conference at the start of the season cast a long shadow over the rest, framing the autumn as, essentially, 'Everyone versus Farage'.
Reform UK: Setting the Tone
Conference season commenced with Reform UK's shorter but headline-grabbing assembly in Birmingham, an event which was big on rhetoric but very light on robust policy. The party's pronouncements on immigration predictably dominated coverage, and set the mood music for a conference season that was going to be more about social issues than transport planning.
Liberal Democrats: Fun by the Seaside
The Liberal Democrats decamped to the Bournemouth seafront, with their buoyant conference contrasting starkly with Farage's rally at the NEC. Sir Ed Davey courted media attention with another one of the stunts which have become his trademark, this time by joining a marching band. Beyond the brass, however, there was some serious discussion on transport, with an Urban Transport Group panel on transport devolution and growth neatly capturing the Liberal Democrat emphasis on localism and sustainability.
Labour: It's All About Delivery
But of course, all eyes were always going to be on Liverpool. Just over a year after Labour's landslide victory, and amid growing whispers about Sir Keir Starmer's position, conference was always going to be a defining moment for the government. In the end, predictions of the Prime Minister's political demise proved excitable and premature. He shored up his position with a rousing speech, extolling the virtues of British tolerance and unity. It was an obvious rebuttal to Nigel Farage and Reform's brand of politics.
Heidi Alexander MP gave a steadying performance, speaking with confidence and command of her brief. Given the current economic circumstances, nobody expected any curveballs from the Transport Secretary, and her holistic approach to the many modes of transport on offer – (soon to be fully nationalised) rail, buses, active travel and roads – came across as pragmatic but ambitious.
Beyond the main stage, I was delighted to take part in a Labour Digital roundtable on autonomous vehicles, exploring both the opportunities and the challenges of innovation in the sector. I also joined the Urban Transport Group's discussion on transport devolution, which featured the Minister for Roads and Buses, Simon Lightwood MP, among others.
From both Lightwood and Alexander, and all the other MPs, ministers and Labour Party figures I spoke to, I came away with a strong sense of optimism. Despite a turbulent first year in government, there seems to be a genuine belief that things can be turned around. That turnaround, though, depends on one thing: delivery. Delivery of better living standards and a state that works for the country it exists to serve – including a transport network that is affordable, reliable and safe.
Conservatives: Fighting for Relevance
The Conservative Party conference drew the curtains on this year's season, and many thought it could be curtains for the Conservative Party too. There was morbid anticipation as the Tory faithful gathered in Manchester for a leaner conference than is usual for the party, which was no surprise given its electoral battering in 2024 and the repeated battering it has sustained, largely at the hands of Reform UK, ever since. Stoic party activists, lively fringe events and an assured speech from the Shadow Chancellor, Sir Mel Stride, steadily raised spirits however, before Kemi Badenoch's relaxed demeanour and well-kept Stamp Duty surprise made for a genuinely impressive closing speech.
Unfortunately, the question of Kemi Badenoch's survival and the Tories' renewed focus on fiscal policy – particularly cutting spending – left very little room for transport. The Shadow Transport Secretary, Richard Holden, gave a keynote speech dominated by attacks on the Labour frontbench, but it did contain an interesting recurring theme of transport unlocking freedom and opportunity, which could be something to watch out for as the Party continues to develop its policy platform.
The Big Messages
In short, Labour's message was "give us time", the Conservatives' was "we're not dead yet", Reform's seemed to be "there's no stopping us" and the Liberal Democrats have found a "keep it local" niche which very much works for them at the moment.
Transport Sector Takeaways
For transport professionals, this year's conference season was, if we're honest, a little underwhelming. Many had hoped that a change of government would bring stability, allowing serious discussion to replace political theatre. Yet much of the season still felt like a continuation of the same old soap opera, with too much energy spent on personalities and positioning.
Still, there are reasons for optimism. Devolution remains the big story for the transport sector, with a broad consensus emerging that it offers a real opportunity to do things differently – to make transport policy genuinely responsive to its users' needs. There's also a renewed recognition that connectivity is not a luxury, but intrinsic to the economic and social health of the country.
But with social issues dominating public discourse and the fiscal situation scarcely improving, it remains to be seen if the resources are there to actually back up the delivery everyone agrees is so vital.
At JFG Communications, we'll be tracking how political rhetoric on delivery turns into measurable progress and whether this government can turn its transport ambitions into projects that actually get people and places moving.
