Boris Johnson speeds up plans to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars
BORIS Johnson is speeding up plans to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars in a green drive.
Electric vehicles may be the only option for drivers — five years earlier than the current target of 2040.
Discussions among officials in Whitehall are working towards bringing the ban forward to 2035. The decision could form part of a major intervention from the PM on climate change this week.
Mr Johnson is also expected to set new ambitions on plastic use.
Cabinet Minister Grant Shapps told the Tory party conference last year there was a commitment to the 2035 target.
But the Government want to launch a consultation on the new target shortly. It comes just weeks after Transport Minister George Freeman said he was “cheered” by Volkswagen saying it was raising its electric car production forecast for 2025.
In a rallying call to the public and industry, Mr Freeman said “all of us are going to have to get with the programme”.
most read in politics
He added: “We have momentum, we have know-how, we have industry commitment. Many people haven’t made the shift from electric motoring being a nice idea, a vision, to being a practical reality that we are going to do.”
Theresa May committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 as one of her last acts as Prime Minister.
The UK became the first member of the G7 to legislate for the target in June last year.
- GOT a news story? RING us on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk