UK Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Vows to Scrap Petrol and Diesel Car Ban

The United Kingdom’s Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has announced plans to scrap the country’s ban on petrol and diesel cars if the party wins the next general election. In an article published in the Sunday Telegraph, Badenoch described the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which requires all new cars to be electric or hybrid from 2030, as “a well-meaning but ultimately destructive piece of legislation.”

Badenoch criticized the current policy, stating that it would only benefit China, saying, “The only winners in this economic self-harm are China.” She added that the government would still pursue a “transition to cleaner transport,” but one guided by “affordability, practicality and technological progress” rather than “unrealistic mandates that weaken domestic manufacturing and empower foreign competitors.”

The Conservative leader’s comments follow her meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has pushed the EU to reconsider its own plans to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles. Badenoch suggested the EU might now drop a full ban, saying, “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 allowing others to dominate global supply chains.”

The ban, originally introduced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2020, was later pushed back to 2035 under Rishi Sunak. Labour has pledged to bring the deadline forward in its 2024 election manifesto. UK car manufacturers have been divided over the 2030 target, with some calling for additional support to meet the deadline.

In its most recent budget, the government announced an extra £1.3 billion for the Electric Car Grant scheme to encourage EV adoption. However, drivers of battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will face a 3p-per-mile charge from April 2028 under the Electric Vehicle Excise Duty, prompting concerns that it could make electric cars less appealing.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said the government remained “committed to phasing out all new non-zero emission car and van sales” and noted that “more drivers than ever are choosing electric.” The next UK general election must be held by 15 August 2029, though the Prime Minister may call it earlier.