Parking Code of Practice Consultation 2025 - now let's see what happens

Nellymoser

https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/r/mp/baggy-shanker/debate/2026-01-08/commons/commons-chamber/business-of-the-house/contrib/2E4A27FF-5B33-4E9F-9EF3-183E09E74E0B

Contribution by Baggy Shanker (Derby South) (Lab/Co-op) on Thursday 8 January 2026

Every parking fine from rip-off private operators hurts drivers and our city centres, and Derby is no exception. Last October, Jumpin Fun play centre closed its doors for good because families could not trust that they would be treated fairly at the nearby Copeland Street car park. I welcome the Government’s recent consultation on fairer parking rules, but will my right hon. Friend encourage a timely response to the consultation so that we can put an end to the rip-off private operator parking industry?

Sir Alan Campbell replies

As my hon. Friend mentions, we are cracking down on unjust private parking charges through a new, stronger private parking code of practice. I will ensure that he receives an update on the timing of the response.

Think the public need to be hearing that update too.

Protest

More angry than worried. Industry wins simply by delay. And there is absolutely no effective legislative response.

This is just another hymn in the Book of Commons Prayer - No450: Park the Herald, angels sing A routine jolly good sing where all the singers in the community - including industry - are so repeatedly familiar they know the words and music and give little fresh thought to the continuing injustice affecting thousands of impotent voters every year. A comforting mantra that blankets continuing ineptitude. If the CoP is ever implemented we'll probably find Mandelson as Chair and some ex-OFWAT wunderchild as CEx.

"There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019" (legislation.gov)

from which UK Statutory Instruments2024 No. 653 states "Regulation 2 brings into force sections 1 to 7 of the Act, section 8 insofar as it is not already in force, and sections 10 and 11, on 20th May 2024. All other provisions of the Act (sections 9 and 12, and section 8 insofar as it contains a power to make regulations) came into force on 15th March 2019 by virtue of section 12(1) of the Act." So on paper everything is in order. And so………

" 8 Jan 2026……

Baggy Shanker (Derby South) (Lab/Co-op newcomer)

Every parking fine from rip-off private operators hurts drivers and our city centres, and Derby is no exception. Last October, Jumpin Fun play centre closed its doors for good because families could not trust that they would be treated fairly at the nearby Copeland Street car park. I welcome the Government’s recent consultation on fairer parking rules, but will my right hon. Friend encourage a timely response to the consultation so that we can put an end to the rip-off private operator parking industry?

Sir Alan Campbell (Labour since 1997 & Leader of the House)

As my hon. Friend mentions, we are cracking down on unjust private parking charges through a new, stronger private parking code of practice. I will ensure that he receives an update on the timing of the response."

How can Campbell say this in Parliament without any disciplinary reaction? The only thing cracking is his integrity and the credibilty of Parliament as its impotence is exposed.

What might be orchestrated in 2026 to highlight the continuing failure of the 15th March 2019 Act?

March 15 is internationally recognized as the Ides of March, marking Julius Caesar's assassination (44 BCE), and World Consumer Rights Day. Both seem relevant!

Coupon-mad

There is important work going on, I just can't say…

Protest

Hi

I know some people are in a difficult position, but it doesn't seem to change or bear fruit. Not only are you constrained but none of the elected representatives are speaking out, and Campbell claims "we are clamping down". He promised an update on the timing of the response. Is that worth publishing - or is it just another "in due course" nonsense.

Visible progress suggests the CoP will not take effect in this Parliament……. and probably no other thereafter.

Humdinger1

@Protest we all agree that it's frustrating, no one more than Coupon_mad I'm sure. She will have signed a non disclosure agreement I think which means that if she says anything more than is allowed, she'll undermine all her previous work. None of us wants that. Please keep going CM; thanks again for all you're doing. Love Humdinger x

patient_dream

I think we are all grateful to CM

The problem is the "SNAIL PACE" of this government moves

It has been said that they want to get it right to avoid another JR and on that, we will wait and see ?

Considering that the CoP is law albiet on hold, the donkey work has been done.

IF and it's a BIG IF …. will this government be aroulnd much longer, it seems not

Those older members here will remember Betty Boothroyd (Labour) who was deputy Speaker and was clamped ?

With a click of a finger, clamping was banned, it was not rocket science. It's no wonder the public think the current government is useless and not able to protect people from rogue traders and the great parking scam .

Just one example is banning debt recovery charges which is just a scam … that is NOT rocket science, it's just money clamping

daveyjp

Meanwhile a warning the Court system is close to collapse:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1evxve8q7jo

Nellymoser

Some of our elected members ARE still asking questions about the CoP

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions?SearchTerm=%22Private+parking%22&DateFrom=09%2F07%2F2024&DateTo=22%2F07%2F2026&AnsweredFrom=&AnsweredTo=&House=Bicameral&Answered=Any&AnsweringBodyId=7&Expanded=True

The latest on 26/1 from Martin Wrigley MP who asked the SoS

"what progress he has made on the Code of Practice consultation".

You won't be wrong if you guess the reply and yes it ends with usual "in due course".

@Protest have you tried raising the MHCLG lack of progress on the CoP with the Cabinet Office? There is an easy online contact form to use.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-the-cabinet-office

I recently used it to inform that the MHCLG are not adhering to Govt Consultation Principles.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance/consultation-principles-2018

No 10. states:

• Government responses to consultations should be published in a timely fashion

• Publish responses within 12 weeks of the consultation or provide an explanation why this is not possible. 

Neither have been provided for the latest consultation (closed 18wks ago) AND for the previous Call for Evidence consultation under the Conservatives (FOI requests for the responses received to the Call for Evidence consulation were refused).

I also questioned the need for the MHCLG to keep consulting on this topic and if they are spending tax payers money wisely.

I'm still waiting on a reply so can't say if this route will actually achieve anything but it's another avenue open to the public to raise concerns.

I agree as others have said C-mad is doing an immense amount of sterling work (unpaid) and I believe the steering group will not be holding back at their meetings with MHCLG but this group's existence and their ongoing work is not a reason for others not to criticise the MHCLG action OR lack of it.

patient_dream

MHCLGand the favourite "IN DUE COURSE" …. they said that in the middle of last year ?

They are just another one of the Stamer failing

Do they not understand that Labour will vanish "IN DUE COURSE"

Protest

I am in regular contact with my own MP who does act to spur the minister but if the good-old-boys like Campbell - leader of the House - can stand up and say "we are cracking down on unjust private parking charges" and is not challenged I am left with a very low view of the integrity of the debate and the actual commitment of parliamentarians emotionally and practically to get this matter concluded at any time. Absolutely no residue of the Boothroyd rage!!

" There is no official date yet confirming the Code will be in force in 2026. The next steps would be laying the Code before Parliament, completing the compliance framework with UKAS certification, and then setting an implementation timetable, which could realistically reach into 2026 or later"

"for an ordinary motorist’s day-to-day experience, “crackdown” is a misleading description of what is actually happening on the ground right now.

Here’s why that wording overreaches:

What motorists actually experience today

• The same private parking firms are issuing charges in the same way, under the same legal framework, as they were before the statement.
• No new statutory limits on charges, debt recovery fees, signage standards, or enforcement practices are in force.
• No new regulator, penalties, or enforcement powers have started operating.
• Appeals, debt letters, court claims, and ticket volumes continue much as before.

From a driver’s perspective, nothing has tangibly changed."

"Bottom line

• Yes, [Parker's] statement is misleading as a description of motorists’ real experience.
• No, Parker is very unlikely to face formal sanction for it."

How many motorists have been abused since 2019 as a result of this ineptitude? At what cost?