Logistics UK slams outgoing transport secretary as replacement is named

The Swindon South MP was previously justice minister and also worked as deputy transport mayor under Sadiq Khan between 2018 and 2021.

She takes over from Haigh, who resigned after she admitted pleading guilty to a fraud offence.

Haigh was convicted of falsely telling police her work mobile phone had been stolen during a mugging in 2013.

Commenting on the appointment, Logistics UK said Alexander ”must seize the opportunity to drive Labour’s growth mission by prioritising logistics and acknowledging its foundational role in the economy”. 

“Frustratingly, by appointing herself ‘Passenger in Chief’ Louise Haigh failed to recognise the role of commercial transport in delivering the government’s top growth mission, or how to leverage logistics and supply chains to achieve this,” said Logistics UK chief executive David Wells OBE. ”The vision for the Integrated National Transport Strategy launched yesterday [28 November], was not integrated as it did not include logistics, a major user and provider of our transport networks. Heidi Alexander as the new Secretary of State for Transport has a huge opportunity to address the decline in logistics productivity, drive growth and secure the sector’s place in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy, including through a genuinely integrated transport strategy that meets the needs of the travelling public while facilitating the efficient movement of freight. 

“Logistics UK has identified the key transport corridors and critical routes for investment and is pressing the Treasury and the Department for Transport to better identify the UK’s strategic logistics network, and use this as the basis of a 30-year infrastructure strategy for freight to turbocharge growth across the whole economy.

“Logistics is fundamental to our economy, our way of life and the nation’s prosperity. Nothing moves without logistics: it supplies our hospitals, schools, factories and shops with everything they need, everywhere, everyday. 

“The sector contributes £185 billon to the economy every year and employs 8% of the UK workforce. Research from Oxford Economics shows that by establishing the right partnerships, regulations and investment for logistics, the government can deliver productivity gains that will boost the UK economy by up to £8 billion per year by 2030*. But congestion and delays, friction at our borders, and a lack of public investment over time is making UK logistics less efficient. The World Bank Logistics Productivity Index shows that the UK has slipped from 4th in the world to 19th in the last 10 years.”

Also commenting on the new appointment, RHA MD Richard Smith said: “On behalf of the RHA, I’d like to congratulate Heidi Alexander MP on her appointment as the new transport secretary. We look forward to working closely with her on the important issues facing our critical industry.

“HGVs, vans and coaches play a pivotal role in the supply-chain and the daily life of businesses across this nation - moving goods and people every day. We’re also crucial to the government’s stated objective of boosting economic growth.

“We look forward to working collaboratively with the transport secretary and her ministerial team on solutions to improve roads, infrastructure and driver facilities on the decarbonisation journey in the months and years ahead,” he added.

The chartered institute of logistics and transport UK (CILT UK) said it also welcomed working with the new transport secretary to develop sustainable, efficient and passenger-focused solutions across the sector and to support the wider supply chain.