Asger Risom
Labour faces backlash over plans that could reshape road transport
Fresh government proposals are reigniting anger among motorists and businesses, with critics warning the cost of everyday life could rise. Ministers say the measures are about the future, but opponents see another front opening in what they call a widening war on drivers.
A tougher direction
Ministers have confirmed plans that would force major changes across the haulage industry. Businesses would be required to move away from traditional fuels under a long-term timetable already being set out by the Department for Transport.
According to government announcements, the measures would rule out the continued sale of vehicles running on petrol or diesel, with no allowance made for synthetic or low-carbon fuels.
As a result, firms would have little choice but to switch to electric or hydrogen-powered alternatives.
What’s being proposed
Under the plans, new petrol and diesel lorries would no longer be sold from 2040. The proposals would apply across the UK, affecting manufacturers and transport firms alike.
The Mail reported that the 2040 cut-off date was first proposed by the Conservatives in 2021, but the current government is now pressing ahead with how it would be enforced.
The Department for Transport has outlined three possible approaches, including setting annual electric vehicle quotas for manufacturers, imposing emissions caps on operators, or requiring fleets to become fully electric over time.
Economic warnings
Opposition figures argue the plans could drive up costs across the economy. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described electric vehicle quotas as “economic self-harm”.
“The only winners in this economy are China, who have happily profited from our decision to accelerate demand for electric vehicles without first securing our own battery and mineral supply chains,” she wrote.
Richard Holden, the Conservative shadow transport secretary, told the Telegraph: “Labour are sleepwalking into a cost shock for the entire economy.”
Industry fears
Holden warned that forcing firms to replace vehicles before infrastructure and technology are ready would increase costs. “Those costs will be passed straight through supply chains into higher prices in shops, higher construction costs, and more pressure on inflation,” he said.
Critics say haulage companies could be pushed to scrap working lorries years before the end of their lifespan.
Political pressure
The plans come amid wider controversy over transport policy. Sir Keir Starmer confirmed in April that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will end in 2030, with hybrids allowed until 2035.
Campaigners have since called for the UK to align with the EU’s 2040 deadline, while the Prime Minister has reportedly received tens of thousands of emails from angry motorists urging him to rethink the policy.
Sources: Department for Transport, The Sunday Telegraph, The Mail
