Logistics body sends an important reminder to the government

Edwin Morgan | 19th March 2026 | Comment, Trade Associations
The warehouse sector has been given little attention by government ministers (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
The warehouse sector has been given little attention by government ministers (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Despite the importance that logistics and supply chains carry in Britain's economy, the government routinely ignores the significance of the sector, argues Edwin Morgan

Sometimes, it seems like business just can’t catch a break. My sector, logistics, has been particularly exposed to the rolling crises of the last few years. Each time, it has stepped up, adjusting to a complete overhaul of the terms of trade with the EU, and then responding rapidly to the Covid pandemic.  Companies in our industry had hoped for a calmer period after 2024’s General Election, but 2025 proved to be a tough year for many, with an uncertain economy not helped by the Budget that came late in the year. As 2026 started, things finally seemed to be looking up, with several members of the UK Warehousing Association I spoke to reporting their sites were busier and customers were feeling more confident.  But then came Iran.  Much of the focus on the fallout from the conflict has been on oil and gas prices, but the impact extends far beyond this. At the time of writing, over 100 container ships are stuck in the Persian Gulf, unable to get out through the Straits of Hormuz...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



Hospitality and social value: A unique relationship that is worth protecting

Robert Richardson | October 22, 2026

"Our profession is one of the most accessible in the world," writes hospitality CEO Robert Richardson

How to solve Britain’s housing crisis? 

Kamal Pankhania | October 20, 2026

If councils want to build more homes, they must make it easier for property developers to partner with them, says leading UK developer Kamal Pankhania  

Beyond the beautiful game: How global investment has transformed Manchester

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | October 13, 2026

Manchester’s metamorphosis into the UK’s second capital has been a testament to the potential of northern cities, so we must approach the Man City scandal with a nuanced

Apprenticeships: Great providers change lives, poor providers must not define them

Robert Richardson | October 1, 2026

'Almost seven years ago, I had one of the worst days of my career as a Hotel General Manager,' writes the CEO of the Institute of Hospitality, as

Inside the data: Organisations more cautious about taking public positions compared to five years 

Mace | September 30, 2026

Just under half of professionals say the risks of taking public stances outweigh the benefits 

Forty years after Big Bang, the City cannot write its own rules for growth

Mick McAteer | September 23, 2026

Greater deregulation for the financial sector in the City is not the way forward, writes Mick McAteer.

The Great British agricultural crisis: What does this mean for food, farmers, and national resilience?

Ella Beadman | September 22, 2026

This summer exposed the chain of vulnerabilities faced by the agricultural industry, Ella Beadman writes.

Jenrick is right to abolish the Tourism Tax to save the Great British staycation

Mace Magazine | September 21, 2026

The government's new 5% tourism tax and overnight levy is the last thing the UK's hospitality sector needs, says William Cash

Industry reacts: Teacher pay rise in England 

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | September 17, 2026

The government has agreed to fully fund a forthcoming pay increase for teachers in England in a sudden U-turn.

The government wants to make it harder for businesses to say no to WFH – what does this mean for young people?

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | September 17, 2026

The new government protocol raises concerns about whether young people are getting the necessary exposure they need in their early careers