Tory leader Kemi Badenoch made a high-octane visit to the famous Brands Hatch racing circuit in Kent today, where she swapped high heels for trainers to get behind the wheel of a Formula 4 car. The visit was more than a photo opportunity, serving as the backdrop for a major policy announcement targeting the UK's green transport rules.
Scrapping the 2030 Ban and EV Subsidies
Mrs Badenoch used the occasion to declare that a Conservative government would scrap the planned 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles. She argued that the policy, alongside the associated Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, is damaging the British automotive sector. The ZEV mandate forces manufacturers to meet escalating quotas for electric vehicle sales, aiming for 100% by 2030.
She also pledged to significantly cut subsidies for the electric vehicle sector, claiming this would save taxpayers an estimated £3.8 billion over the next ten years. This would include removing grants for purchasing EVs and cutting funding for non-research and development programmes.
Pressure Mounts as EU Backtracks
Badenoch's announcement comes amid growing international pressure. She revealed the commitment followed a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has urged the European Union to abandon its own 2035 ban. The EU is widely expected to confirm it is ditching that policy this week.
"The reality is that the EU's change of heart on EVs will leave Labour even more isolated," Badenoch stated. She warned that pressing ahead alone would disadvantage UK industry, allowing other nations to dominate global supply chains. She singled out China as a primary beneficiary of the current policy, profiting from accelerated EV demand while the UK lacks secure battery and mineral supply chains.
A Political Battle Over Net Zero
The future of the petrol car ban has become a key political battleground. Initially announced by Boris Johnson in 2020 for 2030, it was delayed to 2035 by Rishi Sunak in 2022. The Labour government reinstated the 2030 deadline earlier this year, calling Net Zero the "economic opportunity of the 21st century."
Badenoch framed her party's approach as one of "fairness and common sense." She criticised what she called "Labour's rush to Net Zero," stating it was having a "disastrous effect" on car makers by forcing them to meet targets not reflected in consumer demand. The Reform UK party has also pledged to scrap the ban.
With the EU poised to reverse course, the debate over the pace of the UK's transition to electric vehicles is set to intensify, placing the future of the country's automotive strategy firmly in the political spotlight.
