Transport Planning Society’s Chair comments on the Manifestos

We are rapidly approaching polling day in what promises to be one of the most significant elections for many years. As the day for UK voters to cast their votes draws closer, the Transport Planning Society (TPS) has reviewed each party’s approach to transport policy and compared them with our five key priorities for a new government.

Our manifesto for a sustainable transport system. 

We published our member-led manifesto in November 2023, outlining our five key asks for an incoming government. These were:

1. Introduction of a National Transport Strategy for England that aligns with spatial planning and the devolved nations’ transport strategies
2. Delivery of an integrated, accessible and affordable public transport system across the UK
3. Investment in safe, secure active travel routes
4. Reduced reliance on the car and introduction of traffic reduction targets
5. Encouragement of a sustainable switch to low-emission vehicles

How do the party manifestos measure up against these priorities? And how confident can we be that the next Government will plan and fund the creation of the fair, integrated and decarbonised transport system we need to support the UK’s sustainable development?

The overall approach to transport

Despite the heated rhetoric of the election campaign, there are some interesting similarities between the manifestos of the main parties when it comes to transport. They all emphasise the importance of devolving further powers and funding from Whitehall to local decision-makers, including city regional mayors. All stress the importance of reforming and investing in the rail network and improving local bus services. There is a strong focus on maintaining existing transport assets, including a shared commitment to fixing potholes. All the main manifestos mention support for active travel. Decarbonisation is also a common theme, although this is generally in the form of tactical commitments to expanding access to EVs and improving the EV charging network rather than a strategic approach to reducing transport’s overall emissions. 

But there are also some important differences in the main parties’ approaches. The Conservative manifesto is much more overtly supportive of driving, motorists and additional investment in the Strategic Road Network through the next Road Investment Strategy. It also pledges to use a Backing Drivers Bill to roll back – or at least make more difficult – delivery of local measures such as the London-wide ULEZ, LTNs and 20 mph zones. Labour’s manifesto makes a welcome commitment to a “long-term strategy for transport” and giving regional mayors power to “create unified and integrated transport systems”. This is presumably how they plan to deliver the mode shift targets “to lower emissions from the transport sector” set out in their Rail policy document. And while Labour’s manifesto acknowledges that cars “remain the most popular form of transport”, their commitment to fix one million potholes annually is overtly funded by reallocating money from the A27 bypass. On aviation, the Liberal Democrats explicitly commit to taking steps “to reduce demand for flying”, whereas Labour and the Conservatives focus on so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuels.

Partnering with an incoming government to shape the future of transport 

Overall, the party manifestos are diverse in focus, approach and ambition. It is striking that transport features prominently in all the main manifestos, although the level of detail varies widely.

We were pleased to see that many of the manifestos include measures that align with the TPS Manifesto, such as Labour’s commitment to developing a long term strategy for transport . Each of our five priorities were included in some form in one or more of the manifestos. Most prominent were commitments to deliver an integrated, accessible, affordable public transport system, and encourage a switch to lower-emitting vehicles. This is unsurprising, given the preference for carrots over sticks at election time.

Less evident were commitments to reduce the nation’s reliance on cars by introducing traffic reduction targets, although Labour has committed to mode shift targets to support decarbonisation.

We look forward to working with whoever forms the next government, representing the views of TPS members and helping to shape transport policy and practice over the next five years and beyond.

Our detailed analysis of the main party manifestos can be read on our website.  

- Ben Plowden, Chair, Transport Planning Society -