This week the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) attended the 2025 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, engaging with senior politicians and industry stakeholders to discuss key issues for dealers and the wider automotive sector. In her closing speech, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch pledged to “restore a strong economy, secure our borders and rebuild Britian’s strength.” She announced a plan to abolish stamp duty on main home purchases and introduced a new fiscal ‘golden rule,’ committing half of savings from spending cuts to reducing the deficit and half to boosting growth. Badenoch also promised to double the apprenticeship budget and reaffirmed that “profit is not a dirty word.” Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride MP reinforced the Conservatives’ pro-business agenda, calling for lower taxes, reduced public spending and the abolition of business rates for pubs and high street shops. As the industry transitions to electric vehicles, NFDA had the opportunity to stress the importance of flexible regulation during a meeting with Shadow Transport Minister Richard Holden MP. Both parties agreed that the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate should remain aligned with development in Europe to protect competitiveness. NFDA also attended a Future Transport Showcase hosted by KPMG, featuring new innovations in driverless and connected vehicle technology, and a Cyber Security fringe event, which emphasised the importance of resilience and digital readiness for UK businesses. NFDA will continue to work closely with policymakers to ensure franchised dealers’ priorities are recognised in shaping the UK’s economic and transport policies.