On December 14, 2025, the United Kingdom’s political climate was jolted by a major announcement from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch: if the Tories win the next general election, they will scrap the much-debated 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. The move, positioned as a lifeline for the domestic automotive industry, has ignited a fierce debate about the future of Britain’s net zero ambitions, global competitiveness, and the real-world practicality of electric vehicle (EV) mandates.
Badenoch made her stance clear in a column for The Sunday Telegraph, calling the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate “a well-meaning but ultimately destructive piece of legislation.” She argued that the policy, which would have required all new cars sold from 2030 to be electric or hybrid, risks isolating Britain and handing economic advantage to foreign competitors, especially China. “The only winners in this economic self-harm are China, who have happily profited from our decision to accelerate demand for electric vehicles without first securing our own battery and mineral supply chains,” Badenoch wrote, as cited by The Telegraph and ITV News.
The Conservative leader’s declaration follows her meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has been lobbying the European Union to relax its own upcoming ban. Badenoch pointed to the EU’s recent reconsideration of its 2035 petrol and diesel vehicle ban—now reportedly set to be delayed to 2040—as evidence that the UK’s current timetable is out of step with global trends. “The reality is that the EU's change of heart on EVs will leave Labour even more isolated, and by pressing ahead alone, we are placing our domestic industry at a disadvantage while giving others the opportunity to dominate global supply chains,” she wrote in The Sunday Telegraph.
The 2030 ban was initially introduced by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2020, with the intention of putting the UK ahead of the EU in the race to decarbonize road transport. The policy was later pushed back to 2035 by Rishi Sunak, before Labour pledged to restore the original 2030 deadline in its 2024 manifesto. Badenoch, who served as business secretary during Johnson’s tenure, was a vocal opponent of the ban even then, expressing concerns about its impact on British investment and industry.
Industry reaction to the policy shift has been mixed. According to BBC News and ITV News, UK car manufacturers are divided: some warn that the 2030 deadline is unrealistic given current demand and infrastructure, while others say clear targets and government support are essential for long-term planning. Recent figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that new battery electric vehicle registrations in November 2025 reached 39,965—a 3.6% increase over the previous year. However, SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes cautioned, “But the weakest growth for almost two years—ahead of Government announcing a new tax on EVs—should be seen as a wake-up call that sustained increase in demand for EVs cannot be taken for granted.”
The government’s current approach, as outlined in the latest Budget, includes a £1.3 billion investment in the UK's Electric Car Grant scheme and an upcoming 3p per mile tax on battery electric vehicles starting in April 2028. Chancellor Rachel Reeves extended grants for EV purchases until 2030, aiming to encourage the transition. Yet, critics argue that new taxes and the slow pace of public demand may blunt the effectiveness of these incentives. As reported by The Sunday Times, there is concern that such measures could make electric cars less appealing to drivers.
Badenoch’s proposal goes beyond simply scrapping the ban. She advocates for a transition to cleaner transport “driven by affordability, practicality and technological progress” rather than “unrealistic mandates that weaken domestic manufacturing and empower foreign competitors.” She emphasized, “Scrapping the mandate will give us the space to rebuild our car industry. A Conservative approach will support innovation, not force it through regulation that ignores economic reality.”
Her stance has resonated with some political allies and industry figures. Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, echoed the call to end the ban, describing it as the only way to “save the UK automotive industry,” according to Daily Mail. Meanwhile, six EU countries—including Italy and Poland—have urged the European Union to rethink its own EV timetable, warning that a rapid phase-out could hurt industrial competitiveness.
The Labour Party, for its part, continues to support the 2030 phase-out as a cornerstone of its climate strategy. Labour argues that the UK must lead on net zero to seize what it calls “an economic opportunity for the 21st century.” The party has criticized Conservative backtracking as shortsighted and potentially damaging to the country’s global reputation and environmental commitments.
Public opinion appears divided but leans toward pragmatism. Editorials in The Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Express have called on the government to “consider showing some humility” and rethink the current approach, while also emphasizing the importance of effective action and accountability. Industry observers note that while more drivers than ever are choosing electric—one in four cars sold in November were EVs, according to a government spokesperson—overall demand remains fragile, and the cost of grants and tax breaks continues to weigh on taxpayers.
Badenoch’s critics warn that abandoning the 2030 ban risks undermining the UK’s legal commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The Department for Transport maintains that the government is “committed to phasing out all new non-zero emission car and van sales,” pointing to the steady, if slow, growth in EV adoption.
As the next general election approaches—required by August 15, 2029, but potentially sooner—the future of the UK’s automotive and climate policies hangs in the balance. The debate is no longer just about cars; it’s about Britain’s place in a rapidly changing world, the balance between innovation and regulation, and the competing demands of industry, environment, and everyday drivers. For now, the only certainty is that the road ahead will be anything but smooth.
