Remember that old phrase: “You wait ages for a bus, and then two come along at once?” We’ve had a very similar experience in relation to ministerial contact in recent months – nothing from the various government departments post-election, then two ministerial meetings at the Department for Transport in quick succession immediately after the summer recess.
But looking back over recent months, this has been a summer of political flux. A general election called early, a victory by an opposition that had yet to develop detailed policy outside basic manifesto commitments, immediately followed by just over two months of recesses, with only a short return to parliament in early September. Focus has been on key headline government bills and various other eye-catching announcements, with a couple of scandals thrown in for good measure. But civil servants have remained silent when it comes to the more ‘granular’ aspects of policy, the plethora of ‘management’ that are the engine room of day-to-day government policy. “Ministerial priorities are under consideration” has been the message to all.
However, engagement with the various departments has quietly continued over the summer months. Discussions were held with officials over the future of various public bodies where the motorcycle lobby holds memberships, consultations on potential agendas for higher-level meetings yet to be agreed and so on. The overall sense, though, is that as newly-minted ministers continue to get used to their new portfolios, departments have yet to set more detailed agendas on a range of issues which lie under manifesto commitments, and officials are wary about saying too much. Overall, a sort of hiatus, with activity continuing behind the scenes.
This all changed the day the party conference recess ended. The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), along with several road safety organisations and the four-wheeled industry, were summoned by the secretary of state for transport to a high-level session to kick off work to bring to life the administration’s manifesto commitment to a new road safety strategy. It was attended by both secretary of state Louise Haigh and the minister for the future of roads, Lilian Greenwood. This was a high-level session that focused on broad safety themes rather than on specific policies, it was an opportunity to draw attention to outstanding issues for motorcycle safety, such as the need for reform to training and testing, default access to bus lanes and work to refresh the former government’s motorcycle strategy – something that was originally developed by the previous Labour administration, working in partnership with the original NMC.
A week later, the NMC was back at DfT HQ in London, this time with its Pothole Partnership colleagues, the AA, British Cycling and JCB. This was for a more detailed meeting to look at how Labour’s manifesto commitment to fix the roads can become reality. Minister Greenwood was keen to discuss what could be done and is clearly committed to the task. All good, but it remains to be seen how far the new government can deliver given the monumental – and still growing – scale of the problem, against a backdrop of the current state of public finances. Our message was to use the funding that there is much more smartly – focussing on permanent rather than costly and ineffective temporary repairs.
We now know that there will be a huge focus on safety and related areas from this ‘new’ DfT. The question is what about other areas? In relation to motorcycle decarbonisation, there is long overdue certainty in this area, and so far, the government has said nothing about the issue – not yet confirming future policy across various transport sectors. Training and testing are key issues for us, and given that this is about safety, it’s likely that the discussion about reform could soon restart. This could be enabled by the move of a senior DfT official over to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to take charge of this very area. Provision of tests, backlogs in the system, plus other areas, guarantees a very full inbox for the new boss, who is someone well acquainted with the motorcycle lobby.
Other previous consultations remain unanswered by the government, which includes areas such as anti-tampering rules, and there is also work related to green roads access and other areas relating to the sport which cross over to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. A busy agenda. Plus, the budget looms and what this could mean for the motorcycle business as a whole.
For the NMC the goal of a new government motorcycle strategy remains essential work. A strategy that properly recognises motorcycling as a transport mode and an alternative to the car opens up a much more dynamic discussion about safety investment, recognition in local policies, better and safer road infrastructure and ensuring accessibility for those who ride, particularly in urban areas, for both practical and leisure reasons. Plus, of course, there are the opportunities that motorcycling represents for rural transport and the potential support for post-test training. A proper strategy would provide a framework from which other policies and initiatives would flow, not just on safety but also in relation to support for the sector as a whole.
CRUCIAL MONTHS AHEAD
However, it’s still early days, and the months ahead are crucial for the NMC lobby, plus for the individual public affairs efforts of its member organisations and the NMC’s partner, the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA). Our aim is to turn threats into opportunities, create further opportunities and work with the government to create a better and more supportive environment for motorcycling as a whole. Government engagement has now stepped up a gear, and the NMC has an active work programme planned for DfT and other government departments. Plus, of course, with parliament, where meetings are currently being held with new and returning MPs.
Key to all this is partnership. The NMC has forged a range of relationships with organisations from the trade, the industry and other motorcycling organisations, as well as from other sectors. Partnerships increase ‘constituency’, create better relations with those who may have been previously sceptical of motorcycling, opens better dialogue with government and ultimately help to “shift the dial” towards what motorcycling needs.
A new government is always a time of change, but the NMC was ready for this and looks forward to the work ahead to create a better environment for motorcycling and the trade.
Craig Carey-Clinch
Executive director, NMC