Labour’s ‘shocking record’ as ministers move to slash EV target by a quarter

The UK government is poised to cut its electric‑vehicle sales target by roughly a quarter, a move that has left car makers and climate campaigners alike reaching for the brakes.

Polanski, who described Labour’s climate record as “shocking”, warned that the party’s policies could be as volatile as a mis‑behaving battery.

Louise Haigh is expected to agree to the reduction, which will see the original ambition – a sizable share of new car sales being electric by 2030 – scaled back.

At the same time, ministers are tightening a ban on goods made with slave labour, ordering that such items be withdrawn from sale and changing the law to enforce the new restriction.

The government still intends to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and to require all new cars sold from 2035 onward to be zero‑emission.

Industry insiders are already joking about “slow‑charge” strategies, while climate activists argue that trimming the EV target sends a mixed signal about the UK’s green future.

Financial markets are adjusting too, swapping out overly‑optimistic electric‑vehicle bets for more measured bets on a slower rollout.

The policy shift underscores the tension between ambitious climate goals and the political realities of delivering them.