Britain’s Net Zero policies, such as the incremental ban on non-electric cars, are a fiasco, now costing serious jobs and threatening entire regional economies, says Liam Halligan in the Telegraph. Here’s an excerpt.
The decision to close [the Luton van-making factory] was taken by Stellantis – the world’s fourth-largest auto-making conglomerate, comprising European and U.S. brands including Chrysler, Fiat and Peugeot, as well as Vauxhall.
Carlos Tavares, Stellantis Chief Executive, said earlier this year that the zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate was making car-making in the U.K. economically unviable – which is obvious, to anyone who has been paying attention.
Much of our political and media class, protecting their eco-credentials and averse to awkward details, have waved away the warnings. But Britain’s Net Zero policies, not least ZEV, are now imposing existential damage on parts of the country least able to withstand major economic shocks.
From 2035, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is to be banned, with second-hand sales remaining legal. That’s the law in the U.K. and across the European Union.
Labour’s manifesto pledged to bring that ban forward to 2030, which is where it was under the Tories until Rishi Sunak moved the target back to 2035, in line with the EU. But Sunak only moved the headline date back five years, with the underlying “transition” period remaining the same.
The result is that, since January, U.K.-based carmakers have faced extremely stiff fines if 22% of the cars they sell in Britain aren’t fully electric – having to shell out an astonishing £15,000 for every vehicle by which they fall short.
The target ratchets up to 28% next year, incrementally rising to 80% by 2030 (or 70% for vans) – even if the complete ban remains at 2035.
But consumers aren’t buying it. Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) remain low for all kinds of reasons, including a still-poor charging network, concerns about battery performance and related ‘range anxiety’. New EV sales are far lower than official forecasts, having stalled at less than a fifth since 2022 despite carmakers offering deep discounts and ongoing tax breaks for company-bought EVs. …
What with the closure of Port Talbot steelworks and the Labour’s ban on new drilling in the North Sea, Net Zero policies are now seriously riling the U.K.’s trade unions.
Gary Brown, head of the GMB, the UK’s third-largest union, says Labour’s green policies are “hollowing out working-class communities”. No wonder Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is now “listening” and has pledged to “consult” on these ZEV rules. …
But powerful vested interests and party donors – including the EV charging industry and its financial backers, along with power companies producing the most expensive electricity in the developed world – are pushing Labour to hold its nerve.
Britain’s Net Zero policies – particularly those relating to EVs – are a fiasco, now costing serious jobs and threatening entire regional economies. This is what happens when politicians think they know best – putting vanity and ideology above economic and commercial logic.
Worth reading in full. Follow Liam on X.
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No shit Sherlock.
Because centrally planned economies have always worked so well in the past……………
https://thenewconservative.co.uk/a-darkening-reality/
Don Wightman.
This article is about Venezuela. We are on course to arrive at the same destination if Kneel has his way – turd world shithole.
“Venezuela has been a nation in mourning for a while now, its people held captive by a regime that has destroyed its soul. For those who remain, the struggle for survival continues — but with each day, the light at the end of the tunnel grows dimmer.”
The light grows dimmer. Doesn’t it just?
Most modern politicians have been led to believe that they merely have to say something and the capitalist handmaiden will make it happen. But the capitalist handmaiden can still choose to go elsewhere or make something else instead. Which is why a fascist or communist government inevitably brings industry under control of the State to ensure the will of the politicians is not foiled by mulish resistance.
Are we there yet?
Even if we were it wouldn’t work, governments are simply useless at business and manufacturing.
Mulish resistance and implacable civil disobedience is what’s needed to tell these morons that they won’t win.
The manufacturers are walking away already.
Anyone with half a brain, maybe even less, should be able to see what a complete arse-burger nett zero is. If anyone decides to press on with it, then the reason they are doing it is that it is a deliberate policy, with destruction and poverty as the end objectives. They are not the surprise consequences of a poorly thought out plan.
But powerful vested interests and party donors – including the EV charging industry and its financial backers, along with power companies producing the most expensive electricity in the developed world – are pushing Labour to hold its nerve … This is what happens when politicians think they know best – putting vanity and ideology above economic and commercial logic.
They know ‘climate change’ is a scam. They know they are destroying the country for idiotic reasons, especially considering the world’s countries producing the most CO2 are happy to continue to do so (and they are right).
This is all orchestrated, this is all wanted. And none of our politicians has the courage to speak out? That is not credible. Somebody is telling them they should not dare to say anything. And that somebody is also being told and paid to continue the lie.
There are truly dark forces behind this fiasco and it is about time somebody stood up and pointed them out.
Can we replace Rachel with Liam please as a matter of national urgency?
Has Liam ever worked in accounts?
But Politicians, the Public sector workers, civil servants and media types, don’t work in the car industry, they don’t live near industry and they probably do not have family members who work in industry, just like farming, they don’t care, it doesn’t affect their lives, and actively destroying these industries to garner points with their billionaire masters is what is important. Silly little proles making cars for other little proles and their families to move around in is none of the people in Westminsters concern
How is it that ordinary people eg those passing comment in places like the Daily Sceptic or X and other social media have known for a very long time what would happen if the absurd climate policies were implemented. Jobs would be lost, energy prices would skyrocket but the governments putting these policies in place did not know? —-Ofcourse they knew. But the bare faced liars pretended to the general public that energy prices would fall because renewables were cheap, and that hundreds of thousands of green jobs would be created. —-The entire Green Agenda is lie after lie after lie all based on the pseudo scientific fraud called climate change. —-wakey wakey people
Net Zero will Collapse the Economy
Well Carlos Tavares is history now. Also consider which country it is easier to shed staff in out of France, Italy and the UK, not to mention that the EU is wavering under pressure on their 2035 deadline.
Just wait for my new wood- burning steam car. Back to the future
This is a revolution by an absolute minority of about 10% of climate radicals and grifters living off of government tax money. This will be life transforming for everyone and will have no effect on pollution or earth’s climate. There has never been an honest public debate or decision. This climate action has never been subject to a vote. This is just a minority of extremists, grifters and business opportunists many driven by the UN and WEF who seek power. It’s high time an honest debate and refendum is held, otherwise this will be chaotic and destructive.
PLEASE can someone work out and publicise how much Net Zero is costing us? I saw a figure of £1700 per family per annum some years ago. I make it around £2000, but it depends on assumptions. All the wind farm electricity subsidies and extra costs (eg the costs of the backup power stations not in full time use); the subsidies for electric cars; the extra costs of NOT exploiting our local oil and fracking gas; etc, etc.
Why are there no scientists or engineers on the Climate Change Committee, nor among the civil servants servicing that committee? Absurd!
Policy reigns supreme.
Does anyone have any idea why this gov’t is pushing net zero? It makes no sense.
The higher the spurious climate taxes collected the lower the carbon dioxide levels – Not.