The cabinet remains divided ahead of a pivotal ministerial meeting, with proposals for the 2030 sales threshold ranging from 50% to the full 80% mandate. De facto deputy prime minister Louise Haigh is mediating the dispute and is expected to push for a compromise figure between 60% and 65%. A formal government announcement is due later this month, amid warnings that watering down the rules could undermine environmental credibility following other controversial moves like approving the Jackdaw gasfield.
Key points
Ministerial negotiations overseen by Louise Haigh point toward a potential compromise sal…: Ministerial negotiations overseen by Louise Haigh point toward a potential compromise sales mandate between 60% and 65%.
Lawmakers from industrial constituencies argue that a lowered 50% threshold provides a pr…: Lawmakers from industrial constituencies argue that a lowered 50% threshold provides a practical transition that shields domestic manufacturing jobs.
MPs warn that weakening the automotive mandate could damage the administration's green st…: MPs warn that weakening the automotive mandate could damage the administration's green standing and drive voters toward the Green party.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Labour MPs are urging the government not to weaken its electric vehicle targets as divided cabinet ministers prepare for a crunch meeting on Thursday to thrash out a compromise.
Members of the climate and nature crisis caucus (CNCC) say ministers must not water down a legal requirement for carmakers to ensure that 80% of the vehicles they sell in 2030 are electric, saying doing so would be a backward step and “shortsighted”.
The intervention comes as Louise Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, prepares to meet the energy, business and transport secretaries to decide whether to change the target. A meeting planned for Wednesday has been pushed back to Thursday, according to government sources.
Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, wants to slash the target to 50%, while Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, wants to cut it to about 60%. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, is pushing for it to remain as close to 80% as possible.
Sources say Haigh, who is standing in for Andy Burnham after the prime minister recused himself over a potential conflict of interest, is…
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