Timing is vital in politics and it was well out for the political wing of the bike industry last month. The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) and the National Motorcycle Dealer Association (NMDA) held a joint breakfast reception at Westminster, less than a week after transport secretary Louise Haigh had been forced to resign after revelations of a fraud conviction a decade ago. Haigh’s replacement, Heidi Alexander, had only been in the role for a few days, so the roads and urban transport ministers were busy meeting their new boss almost at the same time as the bike industry’s political lobby gathered in the Thames Pavilion on Westminster’s riverside terrace.
The reception was hosted by the Labour MP for Leeds North East, Fabian Hamilton, who opened the event with a positive speech about motorcycling, albeit one short on much in terms of concrete policy change. Hamilton is a keen biker and spoke passionately to BDN at length about his Honda CB1000R, which he rides around Yorkshire, and his electric Zero SR/F, which he uses when in London. He’s owned the Zero for three years and is a convert to the battery-powered machine for use in the congested South East. He certainly comes across as a solid ally for the bike world in the corridors of power.
Craig Carey-Clinch, NMCThe reception itself was a bit of a placeholder event, where the NMC and NMDA re-stated their positions on a number of areas. With new bosses, Keir Starmer’s Labour government very much in mind, the NMC released Motorcycling and the Future of Transport, a new publication summarising the importance of powered two-wheelers for the broader economy, as well as outlining what the industry needs from politicians in terms of licencing, road safety, decarbonisation issues, heritage motorcycling, access to green spaces, and celebrating motorcycle sport. Cleverly, the NMC also released a supplementary 18-page document, which contained much more in-depth analysis and detail on motorcycling policy, giving interested parliamentarians a chance to find out more after digesting the less detailed summary document.
After the event, Symon Cook, head of the NMDA, which represents motorcycle retailers across the UK, said: “NMDA’s parliamentary breakfast was a great opportunity to reflect on 2024 as well as on the opportunities and challenges that lie in the year ahead.
Collaboration between manufacturers, policymakers and riders will be key to overcoming challenges and unlocking the industry’s full potential. By embracing innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity, we can ensure it not only survives but thrives.”
Craig Carey-Clinch, executive director of the NMC, said: “The briefing was an opportunity to bring the motorcycle sector together with parliamentarians to discuss what is needed for motorcycling from the government. Discussions were positive, and both the NMC and NMDA were able to set out a programme for positive action and launch their proposals to ministers. We look forward to 2025 and the work ahead.”
Alfie Brierley, director of policy and public affairs at the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA), added: “The motorcycling industry stands at a pivotal crossroads, with the opportunity to redefine its role in the UK’s future transport mix. We must move beyond nostalgia and outdated rhetoric and focus on innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity to ensure our sector evolves and remains relevant for this government.
“Let’s not just protect what we have; let’s reimagine and shape a transport system that values the socio-economic and environmental benefits that our industry can provide, or else we risk being defined by the past rather than leading the way to the future.”