Sun, 14 Dec 2025

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 Tories to scrap petrol car ban if they win next election

The Conservative Party leader says the policy is "destructive" and "economic self-harm".
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to scrap the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK, due to come into effect in 2030. She described the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate as "well-meaning but ultimately destructive" legislation, which she claims will harm the UK's car industry. Badenoch pointed out that several EU countries have expressed concerns about the impact of the ban on their industries and are calling for a rethink of the plans to phase out new petrol and diesel cars by 2035. She suggested that this shift in EU policy has left Labour "isolated" and will give China an opportunity to dominate global supply chains. The Conservative leader argued that her government would focus on a transition to cleaner transport driven by affordability, practicality, and technological progress, rather than relying on unrealistic mandates that could weaken domestic manufacturing. She claimed that scrapping the ban would provide space for the UK's car industry to rebuild. This move is likely to be seen as a key election promise from the Conservative Party, which has been criticized for its handling of the economy.
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