Living Streets at Party Conferences 2026
It's been a busy Party Conference season for us here at Living Streets. We've attended more Conferences than ever before, to ensure that walking and wheeling is at the forefront of decision making across all political parties.
Reform UK
First up, we attended the Reform Party Conference in Birmingham. We were delighted to join a fringe event hosted by Urban Transport Group, Campaign for Better Transport and Centre for Cities, on "Unlocking the potential: the power of better transport connectivity".
The panel discussion focused on how transport and devolution can deliver economic growth, contribute to decarbonisation and improve social mobility. It was good to see many people in the room engaged in the discussion that highlighted that a decent transport system is fundamental to achieving access to work, education, skills, leisure, healthcare. The panel discussed how public transport must be linked to a high-quality walking and cycling network and that safe bus stops and shelters are provided. We agree! Every journey starts and ends with a walk.
Labour Party
We were invited by Labour Walks & Cycles to lead a walk/wheel at the annual Labour Party Conference walk, wheel and cycle.
Our Campaign & Public Affairs Coordinator, Zak Viney, kicked off the walk with a speech on the three things we were most excited to see in the last year for walking & wheeling in England: Multi-year revenue funding secured for Living Streets' WOW - walk to school challenge, the third Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS3) focussing on new and better crossings along with safer routes to school, and new opportunities enabled for local leaders to end pavement parking in England.
During the walk/wheel, Zak linked up with Kim Leadbeater MP to hear about her work addressing health inequalities, physical inactivity and deliver on the UK Government's Road Safety Strategy, especially around Graduated Driver Licensing.
A couple of days later, we hosted a Labour Conference Fringe panel, "Power to the regions: How devolution can shape a transport revolution", as part of the Sustainable Transport Alliance alongside CoMoUK, Community Rail Association, Community Transport Association and Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.
We had a stacked panel of two Transport Committee Members of Parliament, Dr Scott Arthur MP and Alex Mayer MP; Leader of Liverpool City Council Liam Robinson MP and Mayor of the East Midlands Combined Authority Claire Ward – in a panel chaired by Living Streets' Chief Executive, Catherine Woodhead.
Notably, Dr Arthur encouraged all English councils to make use of new powers to address pavement parking, and follow the example from his local area of Edinburgh Southwest, where Edinburgh City Council delivered a ban with no exemptions, following a new pavement parking law passing through Scottish Parliament in 2019.
Plaid Cymru
We hosted a "Walk and Talk" fringe event at Plaid Party Conference in Llandudno, alongside Cycling UK Cymru and Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.
We were delighted that the Deputy Minister for Transport, Mark Hooper MS spoke at the event – outlining his vision for walking, wheeling and cycling. As we walked along the promenade, we were able to discuss a range of issues including plans to combat pavement parking in Wales, the importance of the walk to school, and achieving cross-party support in the new Senedd.
Walking meetings are a great way to discuss ideas and raise challenging issues!
Green Party of England & Wales
We organised a led walk and wheel at Green Party Conference in Brighton, in a session asking: "What makes streets accessible for walking and wheeling?".
The session explored how a dropped kerb, crossing or public toilet can improve people's everyday lives. We were joined by representatives from Brighton & Hove Green Party and Caroline Russell AM to host an interesting and insightful session.
The highlight was no doubt being told of the story behind Brighton’s CYCLOPS junction, adjacent to Palace Pier, where a roundabout was fully removed to make way for a smart, signal-controlled crossroads featuring a specialized two-way CYCLOPS junction. This layout seems to have reduced road danger and connected walking and wheeling routes more safely and seamlessly between the Pier and Brighton's City Centre.
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Our Party Conference season also took us to Scotland, where we attended the Breakfast Fringe Q&A event hosted by Walking Scotland. The panel comprised Professor Ailsa Nivens, Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections (SPARC), Councillor Angus Millar (Glasgow - Anderston/ City/ Yorkhill ward), MSP Heather Anderson (Dundee City West) and MSP Paul McLennan (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuir).
The panel set out their thoughts about the importance of walking and including the link between better public health, greater funding for infrastructure and the importance of smarter public transport systems. We then blew off the cobwebs with a bracing stroll with our friends from Walking Scotland.
As we look back at the conference season, what is clear is there is an appetite for change - a desire to ensure that people can get from A to B safely and easily by walking and wheeling.
But we at Living Streets know we also need to prioritise the places in-between to make sure that our neighbourhoods are green, clean, welcoming and safe.
We will continue to work across political parties towards our vision of creating streets, communities and places where people want to walk and wheel.
About the author
Ruth Billingham
Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs, Living Streets
[email protected]