Dozens of Labour MPs have written to Sir Keir Starmer and three Cabinet members demanding the Government looks at watering down its Net Zero commitment to drive sales of electric vehicles amid fears UK carmakers might have to shed jobs.
Mansfield MP Steve Yemm told GB News' Chopper's Political Podcast up to 40 Labour MPs – more than one in 10 of all Labour MPs – had written to the ministers urging a rethink of targets to end all sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
Car makers were having to discount the sales of new electric vehicles to hit an ever-increasing proportion of sales.
Under current UK policy, new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030, with all new cars required to be zero-emission by 2035.
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Mr Yemm said between 30 and 40 Labour MPs had written to the Prime Minister, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, and Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, calling for a review.
He told the People's Channel: "Some of us are really concerned because we meet with workers, we meet with management and we hear the same thing.
"There's real unanimity around this question.
"Some of us are very concerned about jobs in our constituencies.
Labour MPs, including Steve Yemm, have written to Sir Keir Starmer
|GB NEWS
"And so, we are making our views known to government."
Mr Yemm and some of the rebels met with Ms Alexander on Thursday.
He said: "We're in a position where we're being heard now, but it's really important, of course, that we keep having that conversation and move it forward.
Mr Yemm added: "There are a lot of ideas from industry.
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There are more than 120,000 electric car chargers across the UK | PA"I would say the industry is committed to decarbonisation.
"This is not an anti Net Zero speed pledge.
"It's the speed and timing and pace question.
"It's about how do we do decarbonisation without UK deindustrialisation.
"We're going to get carbon out of the transport system; we're committed to that as Labour MPs.
"I think that there's a good consensus right across Parliament but let's not deindustrialise and destroy our industrial power in car manufacturing while we do that, and we should not sacrifice that.
"And I don't believe that we have to."
A DfT spokesperson said: "It has never been easier or cheaper to own an EV, especially against the backdrop of high and fluctuating prices at the pumps.
"One in four cars sold now is electric. Industry is on track to meet the Mandate and last year we introduced flexibilities to make it easier for manufacturers who can now comply in several ways - not just through ZEV sales.
"We’re investing over £7.5billion to support EV manufacturing and our Electric Car Grant is boosting sales, with over 80,000 supported to buy a new EV to date.
"This week we announced a £1billion package to put more electric vans and trucks on the road - backing production whilst cutting upfront costs and unlocking major savings for UK businesses."
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