The Government has announced it is pushing back the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2035.
The move was confirmed this afternoon (20 Sept) by prime minister Rishi Sunak, who says he is still committed to reaching net zero by 2050 – but in a “more proportionate way”.
The RAC fears the move will slow down the adoption of more electric cars.
Plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans have been heavily scrutinised since they were first announced.
In November 2020, then prime minister Boris Johnson brought forward the ban to 2030.
In announcing the delay, Mr Sunak said “…”
Speaking to the BBC, Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, says the country has made huge progress on getting more electric vehicles on the road – but without “a line in the sand of 2030” there’s a danger that it could slow down.
Criticism has also come from car manufacturer Ford, as well as Save the Children – with the latter describing it as “a betrayal of children’s futures”.
Meanwhile, Labour’s shadow chief secretary to the treasury, Darren Jones, says the party is committed to banning sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
Speaking to LBC, he said: “We supported the 2030 target when the Conservatives introduced it into parliament.”
He went on to confirm that Labour would bring back the target to 2030, should the Conservatives move it to 2035, if they win the next general election.
Although this has caused a lot of frustration in the car manufacturing industry and green campaigners. It does bring the UK in line with the rest of the EU and also gives the UK more time to get the infrastructure in place.
If Labour then do a return to the 2030 deadline when/if they get in power it will cause yet further chaos
Stephen Hughes, Derby
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