Andy Burnham refuses to rule out EV target U-turn as Labour considers slashing Net Zero car sales mandate

Andy Burnham refuses to rule out EV target U-turn as Labour considers slashing Net Zero car sales mandate The zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate sets targets for the proportion of new-car sales that must be zero-emission Sign up to the Cars Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Andy Burnham has insisted no decision has been made on electric vehicle targets amid reports that his deputy is set to water down Net Zero rules on car sales. The Prime Minister has recused himself from ruling on the zero-emissions targets because his wife, Marie-France van Heel, advises the board of electric vehicle charging company, Be.EV.

This means the decision will be overseen by his de facto deputy, Louise Haigh. It was reported that she is expected to agree to cut the target for EV sales by about a quarter. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate sets targets for the proportion of new-car sales that must be zero-emission. Industry leaders believe the targets are moving more quickly than the market can bear, increasing costs and lessening consumer choice.

This Thursday, Mr Burnham is due to speak at COP31 – the UN climate summit being held in Turkey. Asked how he would explain a watering down of the ZEV targets at a global climate conference, Mr Burnham dismissed reports on the mandates as "speculation". Andy Burnham has insisted no decision has been made on electric-vehicle targets | PA He said: "Well, the consultation on the mandate for zero-emission vehicles concluded only a fortnight ago, so obviously that is being looked at now.

“The range of responses to the consultation… so these reports are just that: they’re reports, they’re speculation and no decision has been made at this point." The Government launched a consultation in August on the ZEV mandate amid concerns from carmakers about the impact of the order to phase out the sale of purely petrol or diesel cars and vans. The current regime requires 80 per cent of car sales to be zero-emission – usually electric-powered – by 2030, with hybrids allowed to make up the rest.

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The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has previously called the current mandate a "fantasy” and welcomed the review. Addressing the Environmental Audit Committee last week, Matthew Croucher, chief economist for the SMMT, said that consumers were already moving towards electric cars. But pushing the mandate faster than the market could absorb would result in higher costs and lower consumer choice, he warned. He said: "I think the industry would generally welcome a slowdown in the rate of the trajectory.

"So we've just had the consultation and the SMMT response to that was that we would like to see a move towards the lower options provided, because it's a very costly transition. "I think everybody's wedded to electrification. The industry has brought more than 180 battery electric vehicle models to the market, so there's a huge array of products out there. "The consumers are shifting towards it but, at the moment, they're still being heavily supported in that transition.

"If you had a trajectory more in line with where we see natural demand moving towards, then that would mean it wouldn't be quite so costly to shift towards that. "The concern is at this point in time if you push the market too quickly then you end up having to potentially reduce volumes, or restrict choice to the consumer. And that ends up being more costly and also more damaging to the industry in the short term." The Guardian reported that ministers are expected to reduce the target for 2030 from 80 per cent of new car sales to 60 per cent.

This has triggered criticism from green campaigners, particularly given the timing as the international climate conference takes place. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman insisted Mr Burnham remained committed to tackling climate change. His attendance at the Cop 31 summit sends a "clear message that the UK remains a climate leader", the spokesman said. "The Government is fully behind the zero-emission vehicle mandate, and no decisions have been taken yet.

"We’re sticking to our commitments: on phasing out new cars that run only on petrol or diesel by 2030, (that) every new car and van will be zero emissions by 2035 and our legally binding net zero targets. "None of that is changing. "The consultation is about getting the details right, so the switch works for drivers, for carmakers and for the hundreds of workers whose jobs depend on it." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Cars DVLA could be scrapped in Andy Burnham 10-year plan Cars M20 shut in both directions after heavy fog causes huge 30-vehicle pile-up Exclusive Cars Renault boss says Labour's electric car targets are 'destroying' residual values of EVs Cars Driving law changes launching in November - New fuel standards, pedicab restrictions and more Exclusive Cars Renault boss hails 'golden time' for electric cars in the UK as EV sales surge Cars Labour accused of 'throwing good money after bad' with £1.35bn fuel duty extension Cars Driving law changes you missed in October - New licence restrictions, MOT test rules and more Cars Drivers face new car tax hikes, HMRC rules and fuel duty updates after Labour's Budget Cars Budget car tax omission could have seen drivers slapped with enormous costs Cars Labour provides major Budget update on pay-per-mile car tax changes launching soon Cars Electric car drivers backed by £100m to cut charging costs as Labour pledges further action Cars John Healey pledges to introduce sweeping VAT changes for taxi firms Cars New HMRC rates to impact millions of UK drivers after Budget announcement Cars Fuel duty extension confirmed by Labour in lifeline to millions of petrol and diesel drivers Cars Labour approves new driving law changes impacting petrol, diesel and electric cars next year Cars UK drivers can save £3,750 on new electric cars from Mini, Ford, BMW and more - full list of eligible EVs Cars Driving law changes confirmed by Labour to save British motorists £300 a year Cars Labour set to freeze fuel duty in Budget as petrol and diesel drivers secure victory Cars Petrol and diesel prices remain high amid dire warning - 'Consequences spread throughout the economy' Cars Citroen 2CV revival prompts surge in interest for French car brand after 'fantastic reaction' Cars Audi boss slammed for appearing alongside Donald Trump after confirming $4bn US investment Cars Oxford Street bans vehicle traffic as Sadiq Khan praises 'truly momentous' day for London Exclusive Cars Renault boss calls on Labour to slash VAT on public chargers to help drivers make EV switch Cars Major car brands recall 300,000 vehicles due to urgent fire and crash warnings - Hyundai, Toyota and more Cars Labour considers weakening electric car targets as experts slam proposals - 'Profoundly disappointing' Cars Drivers forced off roads as bright headlights cause havoc for millions of Britons Cars Volvo to slash 2,500 jobs amid intense pressure from Chinese brands and Trump's auto tariffs Cars London seeks to ban new petrol and diesel private hire vehicles from 2030 under new plans Cars UK councils spend £42million slashing speed limits to just 20mph Cars Labour commits £220million to address 'national embarrassment' and fix roads