Following her speech Miss Villiers took questions from the 70 strong audience which included many of the region's biggest road transport operators. Her comments were reported on the front page of the Birmingham Post newspaper the next day (click here for the report) & also in Commercial Motor & Motor Transport.

Also speaking at the lunch were Peter Roberts, the 1.8m signatures Downing Street e-petitioner & Director of www.DriversAlliance.org.uk, & Hans-Christer Holgersson, Managing Director of Scania (Great Britain) Ltd who presented Chris Kelly, Keltruck's Chairman & M.D., with a plaque commemorating the company's 25 years as a Scania Distributor.

Speaking after the lunch Chris Kelly commented: "I was pleased to be able to arrange for so many significant figures from the industry to get together under one roof & have the opportunity to engage with the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. Our industry is absolutely vital for the success of the UK economy - I think everyone in the room was pleased to hear Theresa strongly acknowledge that fact. The event was a great success for us & I look forward to hosting many more such events in the future."