NewsRescue
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated in a speech on Wednesday that the UK will postpone its planned ban on new petrol and diesel automobile sales from 2030 to 2035.
Sunak chastised his predecessors for focusing on “grabbing headlines” with their ambitious ambitions to reduce carbon emissions in such a short period of time, claiming that their proposals were poorly thought through and never adequately debated. The initial plan, intended to reduce carbon emissions, proposed barring the sale of new combustion-engine cars powered by fossil fuels in the UK beginning in 2030.
“We’ll make the transition to electric vehicles easier.” Until 2035, you’ll be able to buy petrol and diesel automobiles and vans. Even after that, you’ll be able to buy and sell.
Britons must be certain that they can afford to sell their old petrol automobiles in order to purchase new electric vehicles, he stressed. For the time being, public opinion is divided, he said, with people already concerned about the expense of living and high energy bills, and unclear whether they can afford any more costs.
“At least for now, it should be you, the consumer, who makes that choice – not the government forcing you to do it,” Sunak said, adding that his government will still work towards “net zero” emissions by 2050, albeit in a “more pragmatic, more proportionate, and more realistic way.”
Sunak’s decision was hailed by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who stated, “We’re not going to save the country by bankrupting the British people.”
Sunak’s turnaround, however, was not universally praised. If the Labour Party is elected next year, they will reverse his decision and reinstate the restriction to 2030. UK automakers appeared dissatisfied as well, having previously spent billions of dollars converting production lines to electric vehicles.
“Three things are required of the UK government by our business: ambition, commitment, and consistency.” A delay until 2030 would weaken all three,” Lisa Brankin, chair of Ford UK, said in response to the announcement. Stellantis and BMW both stated that they remain committed to transitioning to electric vehicle production by 2030.