Daily Express, on UK Politics, 26 October 2026

6.0out of 10Serious

- started this October

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.2 findings

Andy Burnham’s £274 driveway decision - started this October Andy Burnham has introduced new driveway rule updates this October, with VAT fees cut from earlier this month. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Luke Chillingsworth , Cars Reporter 08:24, Mon, Oct 26, 2026 Updated: 08:25, Mon, Oct 26, 2026 Andy Burnham has overseen new driveway updates this October (Image: Getty) Andy Burnham’s new driveway rule change introduced this October has widened the divide between home and public electric car charging to as much as £274, according to analysis.

New data from ChargeUK has revealed that the so-called driveway divide, the difference between charging at home vs in public, . Domestic electricity was charged at 5% until October 1, when Mr Burnham oversaw change s to cut the fee to 0%. However, Mr Burnham decided to keep public charging costs the same, with road users still paying 20% VAT to top up their battery. This has widened the divide from just 15% to 20%, .

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT According to ChargeUK, drivers charging an electric car in public are paying a total of £1,642 per year, with £274 in VAT fees alone. Meanwhile, those charging their car at home are paying just £224 per year due to cheaper smart tariff rates. These owners are also paying £0 in VAT from this October. Those who do a mix of home and public charging will also be affected. An estimated 80/20 home and public split would see these motorists pay £611 per year to use the roads.

These owners will also be paying around £72 per year in VAT fees. Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you.

This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Shane Brennan, chief executive officer, ChargeUK said: “Cutting VAT on home electricity is the right call at the right time, it will relieve some pressure on what will be a tough winter for energy consumers, including EV drivers. However, it will also entrench the driveway divide for those current and want-to-be EV drivers who pay the full 20 per cent VAT to charge their cars at the worst moment.”

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Petrol and diesel drivers facing new HMRC mileage charges - started in September Older motorists above 70 could be banned from the roads by DVLA — 'stop driving' Motorists charging their EVs in public are paying much more (Image: Getty) ChargeUK has written to Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey demanding an end to the driveway divide. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The open letter has also been signed by a range of experts, including AA President Edmund King, AutoTrader's Ian Plummer and the Chief Executive of the BVRLA Toby Poston.

The letter reads: “It is time to end the unfair driveway divide that sees drivers with access to home electric vehicle charging benefitting from zero VAT and those without paying 20%." Andy Burnham Driveway Electric cars Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments

Read the original article on express.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
What we found (2)

The Daily Express hangs a £274 figure on Andy Burnham's decision, though its own body shows that sum is the VAT public chargers already paid before the change. It tells readers that public charging drivers are now paying hundreds of pounds more. In fact their costs did not change, and the gap comes mostly from cheaper home tariffs.

  1. Uses figures that mislead

    Serious

    “Andy Burnham’s £274 driveway decision”

    Why this matters
    The headline ties the figure £274 directly to Mr Burnham's decision, as if the decision cost or created £274.
    The impression it gives
    That Burnham's October change added £274 to drivers' bills or opened a £274 gap.
    The context
    The body says public charging VAT stayed at 20% and that public chargers pay £274 a year in VAT. That sum existed before the change. The decision cut home VAT from 5% to 0% on a home bill of about £224, which moves the gap by roughly £11, not £274.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“Mr Burnham decided to keep public charging costs the same”
    • Elsewhere in the article“with £274 in VAT fees alone”
    • Elsewhere in the article“those charging their car at home are paying just £224 per year”

    Show it in the article

    “with those relying on public charging bays now paying hundreds of pounds more”

    Why this matters
    The word "now" presents a difference of hundreds of pounds as the result of the October change.
    The impression it gives
    That public charging drivers saw their costs rise by hundreds of pounds because of Burnham's decision.
    The context
    The article itself says public charging costs were kept the same. The difference between £1,642 and £224 comes mostly from cheaper smart tariff rates at home, not from the VAT change.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“road users still paying 20% VAT to top up their battery”
    • Elsewhere in the article“due to cheaper smart tariff rates”

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    Andy Burnham's cut to VAT on home electricity leaves drivers who charge in public still paying 20% VAT, about £274 a year, according to ChargeUK, while home chargers now pay none.

  2. Uses a loaded word

    Minor

    “has soared under the Prime Minister’s actions”

    Why this matters
    In its own voice the Express says the divide "soared" and lays it on the Prime Minister.
    The impression it gives
    That Burnham's actions caused a dramatic jump in what drivers pay.
    The context
    By the article's own figures the VAT gap moved from 15 to 20 percentage points through a tax cut for home users. No one's costs went up.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“widened the divide from just 15% to 20%”

    Show it in the article

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