Last week’s General Election resulted in a change of government. Labour is now the ruling party, and its large majority will give the new Government confidence to carry out the pledges made in its manifesto.
For road transport, Labour’s manifesto said it would:
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Tackle soaring costs of car insurance
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Accelerate the roll out of chargepoints
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Restore the phase-out date of 2030 for new ICE cars
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Support buyers of second-hand electric cars by standardising the information supplied on the condition of batteries.
The specific details and timings of such changes are unknown at this stage, as are any additional measures that were not explicitly listed in the manifesto.
So far, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed to his top team:
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Louise Haigh MP as Secretary of State for Transport
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Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE as a Minister of State in the Department for Transport
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Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
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Jonathan Reynolds MP as Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade.
Once other appointments are confirmed, the BVRLA will contact the ministers responsible for areas that impact member activities, outlining our key asks and highlighting areas requiring action. That is in addition to building on the strong Labour connections the association has forged in recent years.
This election has brought about a large churn of MPs, many of whom will be in Parliament for the first time. For them, there will be a significant learning curve and hunger to engage. Through the BVRLA’s Industry Champions programme, members can get involved and help to amplify the voice of the sector up and down the country.
Commenting on the Labour win, BVRLA Chief Executive, Gerry Keaney said:
“We congratulate Keir Starmer and his party on their strong election win. The change of government brings a change of direction. After a period of great political uncertainty, the industry collectively hopes for stability that will allow action to be taken and progress to be achieved.
“The time for blanket decarbonisation policies has been and gone. As the transition towards cleaner, greener vehicles evolves, the need for specific interventions becomes clear. Up to now, powerful tax incentives for company-provided cars have accelerated adoption among fleets but left retail and rental lagging. For the transition to be embraced by all sectors, targeted action is needed. Charging infrastructure, the used market, and vans are just three of the areas demanding closer attention.
“Guided by our members, we will continue to be a clear voice for the sector and its needs. Our work around the rental sector, used BEV market and transition to electric vans will ramp up as we continue to grow our influence with the Labour government and the key departments shaping UK transport.”
If members have any specific questions around what the incoming Government might mean for vehicle leasing, rental, brokers and car clubs, then contact us via [email protected].
