Labour members of parliament are actively urging the government to maintain its current electric vehicle targets as cabinet ministers prepare for a decisive meeting on Thursday. The session is expected to address a significant disagreement within the cabinet regarding the strictness of the legal requirement for carmakers.
The climate and nature crisis caucus has warned that weakening the mandate would represent a backward step. They argue that the current rule, which requires 80% of vehicles sold in 2030 to be electric, should remain intact to demonstrate strong leadership on climate issues.
The intervention comes as Louise Haigh, who is serving as the de facto deputy prime minister, prepares to consult with the energy, business, and transport secretaries. A meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday was postponed to Thursday to allow for further discussion among the key figures involved in the decision.
Opinions within the cabinet are sharply divided on the appropriate level of the target. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has advocated for a significant reduction to 50%, while Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander favors a cut to approximately 60%. In contrast, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is pushing to keep the figure as close to the original 80% as possible.
Government sources indicate that Haigh is likely to support a compromise position. She is expected to agree on a new target falling between 60% and 65%, aiming to find a middle ground between the more aggressive and more moderate proposals. Haigh is currently standing in for Andy Burnham, the prime minister, who recused himself from the decision due to a potential conflict of interest.
With a final announcement anticipated later this month, Labour MPs are making a final push to prevent a reduction in the target. Many view this policy as a symbol of the government's broader approach to its green agenda and its credibility on the world stage.
Chris Hinchliff, chair of the climate and nature crisis caucus, wrote to the transport secretary on Tuesday to express his concerns. He described a decision to cut the 2030 target as a step backwards that would undermine the government's net zero ambitions. He argued that diluting the mandate would distract from the urgent need for a coordinated industrial strategy to reindustrialize Britain.
Several other Labour MPs have backed Hinchliff's position. Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, stated that the country needs more ambitious targets, not less, to show consistency. Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, warned that watering down the government's biggest decarbonization policy would have serious environmental consequences and would not help with the cost of living.
However, some Labour MPs from industrial areas support reducing the target to protect jobs and investment. Antonia Bance, MP for Tipton and Wednesbury, argued that a 50% target by 2030 would offer manufacturers a more realistic pathway while still keeping the country on track for net zero. She emphasized the need to protect supply chains and create the cars of the future.
Other party members are concerned that decisions like weakening the EV policy and approving the Jackdaw gasfield may damage the government's green credentials. One MP noted that these moves are creating a public perception that the party is not sufficiently progressive, which could potentially benefit the Green party.
