Comments from James Heappey come as MoD reveals more than 10,000 UK troops are not fit to serve
The Department for Transport has today launched a consultation on how to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The previous government originally set 2030 as a deadline, but in September last year Rishi Sunak said he was pushing the deadline back to 2035, as one of various measures he was announcing watering down the impact of net zero rules. In its manifesto Labour said it would restore the 2030 target.
Announcing the consultation, the DfT says:
The 2030 phase out date was broadly supported by industry before the previous UK government extended the phase out to 2035. Currently more than two-thirds of car manufacturers in the UK, including Nissan and Stellantis, have already committed to fully transitioning to electric cars by 2030 …
This consultation is focused on how, not if, we reach the 2030 target. It will give the sector the opportunity to consider how the current arrangements and flexibilities are working, which hybrid cars can be sold alongside zero emission models between 2030 and 2035, and any further support measures to help make the transition a success for industry and consumers.
Our relationship with the United States is going to be absolutely critical in the coming years. For example, when it comes to security we will always be with the US.
But when it comes to trade we are an open, trading economy that has to have relationships with the US, with the European Union and with China. This thing that you’ve got to choose is wrong.