Labour’s net zero retreat: Burnham to water down electric car rules

In a significant climbdown from the Government’s flagship net zero agenda, Andy Burnham is set to dilute the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, allowing half of all new cars sold by 2030 to still run on petrol. The move, reported by The Times, marks a retreat from the previous target that would have restricted fossil-fuel cars to just 20 per cent of new sales by the end of the decade.

Why is the Government backing down?

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh admitted that Britain faces an “affordability challenge” and that the transition to electric vehicles must be done “in a way that works for people’s pockets.” Speaking candidly, she said: “Candidly, my job is to keep people with us. So 81 per cent of the public believe that renewables are a good thing and support it. I need to keep that number.” Her remarks suggest a pragmatic shift, acknowledging that forcing electric cars on an unwilling public risks political backlash.

What do car manufacturers say?

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has been vocal in demanding reform. President Mike Hawes warned: “The EV mandate debate needs facts, not anti-industry fiction. The reality is that not a single manufacturer believes the regulated 2030 target of 80 per cent is on track.” He noted that despite “unprecedented incentives,” battery electric vehicle (BEV) share stands at just 25.3 per cent for cars and far lower for vans. “Urgent reform of the mandate is therefore needed,” he added.

Tanya Sinclair, chief executive of Electric Vehicles UK, countered that manufacturers themselves are to blame. “Claims that demand simply isn’t there ring hollow. They know better than most that demand doesn’t just appear, it is built,” she said, arguing that more marketing effort could boost sales.

Is the public on board?

Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, defended the Government’s change of emphasis. “What people do want to see is for the country to continue moving towards renewables because they know in the long run that will bring bills down,” she said. But she added: “I don’t think most of the public are wedded to whether it’s 100 per cent clear power by 2030 or 90 per cent or 85 per cent.” This echoes a broader sense that the net zero timetable was always more ideological than practical.

What does this mean for drivers?

For British motorists, the watering down of the ZEV Mandate is a welcome dose of common sense. It recognises that forcing families into expensive electric cars, when charging infrastructure remains patchy and electricity bills are soaring, was never a realistic policy. The Government’s retreat may be driven by electoral necessity, but it also reflects a deeper truth: the British people are not prepared to sacrifice their wallets or their freedom on the altar of climate zealotry.