Prime Minister Keir Starmer, despite being politically weakened, is reportedly set to deliver a significant blow to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband by scaling back ambitious electric vehicle targets. The move comes as the government finally acknowledges the impracticality of Miliband's aggressive green agenda.
Electric Vehicle Mandate to Be Cut
Miliband had pushed for 80% of new car sales to be electric by 2030, a target widely seen as unaffordable for most consumers. Sources indicate this will now be reduced to 50%, leaving the Energy Secretary furious and embarrassed.
Industry and Public Backlash
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate has faced intense criticism from car manufacturers, who warned it would force them to cut investment in the UK, leading to potential job losses. Industry chiefs were also angered by the need to offer massive discounts to avoid fines of £12,000 per non-compliant vehicle sold.
Electric vehicle sales in the UK reached only 473,340 new registrations last year, a market share of just 23.4%, despite billions in government subsidies. Manufacturers offered £5.5 billion in discounts, averaging over £11,000 per vehicle, a practice described as unsustainable.
Practical Concerns
Consumers remain hesitant due to high costs, a patchy charging network, and the upcoming introduction of a pay-per-mile tax (eVED) from 2028, which will further increase the cost of owning an electric vehicle.
Political Fallout
The ZEV mandate was originally introduced by Boris Johnson in 2020 and came into force in 2024, requiring 22% of sales to be electric. This rose to 28% last year and was set to increase to 33% this year, reaching 80% by 2030 when new petrol and diesel car sales were to be banned. Rishi Sunak previously pushed the ban to 2035, but Labour reinstated the 2030 deadline in its manifesto.
Starmer has faced a barrage of letters from critics demanding the ban be scrapped, labelling it an "undemocratic imposition." Critics argue the policy risks economic disaster, job losses, and grid instability, while even the EU has delayed its own ban until 2040.
Miliband, described as a "swivel-eyed" zealot, has resisted all calls to moderate his eco crusade, which aims to make Britain a clean energy superpower and reach net zero by 2050. However, Starmer's decision to water down the EV target represents a major humiliation for the Energy Secretary and signals a shift in the government's approach to green policy.
