UK government confirms 2030 petrol and diesel ban despite backlash

The UK government can’t agree. Granted, that’s not news. This time, the issue is the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars. Comments from prime minister Rishi Sunak this week suggested the government may consider rolling back on some of the terms of the net-zero policies.

However, Michael Gove, secretary of state for communities and housing, has robustly quashed any suggestion of flexing the pledge. Gove told Times Radio that the plan to stop selling petrol and diesel cars in 2030 is ‘immoveable’. So what’s the beef?

The problem boils down to two main issues. One, there’s a bunch of people that think 2030 is too soon – not enough done in subsidising EV pricing, or growing the charging network – and two, there’s another camp that think going all-in on electric-only is a massive gamble.

Kemi Badenoch, UK business secretary, has been advocating for the industry, which has multiple concerns. Not least, the one about the UK having an adequate EV charging infrastructure in place, ahead of a nationwide switch to electric.

However, foreign minister Andrew Mitchell pointed to the climate-change-based wild fires in Greece as an example of why the shift is imperative sooner rather than later.

With adjustments to the plans set to be introduced for landlords installing gas boilers, there may well be mounting pressure for similar flexibility to be shown in the car market. Especially if alternatives such as synthetic fuels aren't considered as part of the solution.

What do you think?