Labour’s ideological war on motorists has never been more blatant, and nowhere is that more painfully obvious than here in Wales.
But, not content with already giving Wales a reputation as pearl-clutching, health and safety land, they’re now well and truly jumping the shark.
When the Road Safety Foundation proposed 10mph speed limits for thousands of miles of roads, most people would have chuckled and moved on. It’s an idea that, frankly, should be laughed out of town.
So when a Welsh Government Minister was invited to rule this out, her response made jaws drop.
Jane Hutt, one of the Labour frontbenchers in Wales, said “in some circumstances 10mph, and let alone 10, 5mph is appropriate in terms of road speeds”.
The Labour desire to turn Wales into a car park is more than just an inconvenience, it’s more than overzealous greenery; it’s a culture war.
The disastrous rollout of the blanket 20mph speed limit on residential roads has brought chaos, confusion, and cost to everyday people. Introduced under the guise of safety, it’s become a symbol of Labour’s disdain for ordinary working families who rely on their cars to get around.
We’ve seen uproar across Wales. Over 460,000 people signed a petition opposing the 20mph limit; the most signed petition in the history of the Senedd. Why? Because it’s an unworkable, one-size-fits-all policy that punishes communities, slows emergency services, hampers small businesses, and makes daily life harder for working people.
And what has Labour in Cardiff Bay said in response? Arrogantly, they told the public they simply didn’t understand the policy. That they’ll “learn to like it.” It’s patronising and out of touch, and it’s a culture war on the combustion engine.
Labour’s ideological war on motorists in Wales spells disaster for the whole of the UK - Andrew RT DaviesGetty Images
But if you’re planning a Top Gear-style road trip, touring the places with the most bonkers anti-motorist policies, it’s not just Wales you’ll have to visit.
Labour’s contempt for motorists is a UK-wide phenomenon. In London, under Sadiq Khan, we’ve seen the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) expanded to cover all boroughs, a punishing tax grab dressed up as an environmental policy. Thousands of law-abiding drivers, many of them lower-income workers and pensioners, are now being charged simply for driving their own cars to work, to the doctor’s, or to visit family.
And now Labour-run councils across the UK are taking notes, pushing through Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and road closures that divide communities, hurt high street businesses, and push congestion and pollution onto neighbouring roads. These aren’t local improvements, they’re ideological pet projects forced on people without proper consultation or consent.
It’s part of a broader pattern. While they talk about “fairness”, Labour’s anti-car agenda hits hardest those who can least afford it: rural families, shift workers, carers, and small businesses. The ones who can’t simply hop on a Tube or cycle to work.
Lawmakers of all political colours need to understand that the car is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline. We should be investing in roads, fixing potholes, and supporting cleaner technologies, not punishing people out of their vehicles with blanket bans and punitive charges.
The 20mph debacle in Wales should be a wake-up call for the whole UK. We have to fully and passionately oppose the salami-slicing of motorists' rights, because it’s hardworking people who are hit hardest by this culture war.
It’s time to stand up for common sense, for choice, and for the millions who rely on their cars every single day.
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