Labour MPs warn against weakening electric vehicle targets ahead of crunch talks

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Exclusive: Cutting 2030 goal would be a ‘step backwards’, say MPs, as ministers clash over proposed reductionsUK politics live – latest updatesCop31 live – latest updatesLabour…

Exclusive: Cutting 2030 goal would be a ‘step backwards’, say MPs, as ministers clash over proposed reductions

Labour MPs are urging the government not to weaken its electric vehicle targets as divided cabinet ministers prepare for a crunch meeting on Thursday to thrash out a compromise.

Members of the climate and nature crisis caucus (CNCC) say ministers must not water down a legal requirement for carmakers to ensure that 80% of the vehicles they sell in 2030 are electric, saying doing so would be a backward step and “shortsighted”.

The intervention comes as Louise Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, prepares to meet the energy, business and transport secretaries to decide whether to change the target. A meeting planned for Wednesday has been pushed back to Thursday, according to government sources.

Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, wants to slash the target to 50%, while Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, wants to cut it to about 60%. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, is pushing for it to remain as close to 80% as possible.

Sources say Haigh, who is standing in for Andy Burnham after the prime minister recused himself over a potential conflict of interest, is likely to support a middle route and agree a new target of between 60% and 65%.

With a final announcement likely this month, Labour MPs are making a final push for ministers not to reduce the target, which many see as emblematic of the government’s approach to the green agenda.

Chris Hinchliff, the chair of the CCNC, wrote to Alexander on Tuesday saying that a decision to cut the 2030 target would be a “step backwards”.

“This would undermine the government’s wider net zero ambitions and our credibility as a climate leader on the world stage,” he added.

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