Keir Starmer is set to leave Downing Street in days, but UK motorists are unlikely to forgive him quickly, according to Express reporter Luke Chillingsworth. The Labour leader's two-year tenure has been defined by three major issues for drivers: pothole mismanagement, car tax rises, and ZEV Mandate flip-flops.
Pothole Crisis Worsens Under Labour
In his manifesto, Starmer promised to “maintain and renew our road network to ensure it serves drivers, cyclists and other road users.” However, critics argue the roads have deteriorated. The AA reported that pothole-related callouts in January were up 18% across the UK. Meanwhile, RAC reports about potholes averaged 225 per day in February, a stark rise from 66 per day a year earlier.
Starmer committed £7.3 billion for local highway maintenance over four years, but the backlog is estimated at £18.62 billion, making the funding insufficient to address the problem.
Car Tax Hikes Hit Motorists Hard
Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced significant Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) increases. First-year rates for new cars doubled, with cars emitting over 255g/km of CO2 now facing a charge of £5,690, up from £2,745. Additionally, Reeves announced an electric pay-per-mile charge from 2028, set at 3p per mile, which could add up to £300 per year for EV owners driving 10,000 miles annually.
ZEV Mandate Uncertainty
Starmer initially pushed the ban on new petrol and diesel cars to 2030 upon taking office, but faced pressure from the car industry and manufacturers, leading to U-turns. Targets have already been watered down once, and reports suggest Starmer has been considering further relaxations. This uncertainty has created a nightmare for car manufacturers and left some drivers questioning their decision to switch to electric vehicles.
According to Chillingsworth, “Starmer and Reeves have well and truly hammered motorists in their two years in office.”
