Lib Dems say ban all petrol and diesel cars by 2040 or earlier

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Gerri Peev

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Liberal Democrats want to ban all conventional cars by 2040 and allow only electric and ultra-low emission vehicles on the roads.

Every diesel and petrol car would be scrapped by then or earlier if there are enough technological advances.

The extraordinary policy, contained in the Lib Dems’ ‘green manifesto’ launched this week, has the backing of senior figures including party president Tim Farron.

The plan to ban conventional cars comes even though party leader Nick Clegg uses a gas-guzzler himself

The manifesto also outlines plans to give councils support to introduce more congestion charging in towns and cities to encourage greater take-up of public transport.

The plan to ban conventional cars comes even though party leader Nick Clegg uses a gas-guzzler himself. 

The Deputy Prime Minister and David Cameron both use cars –  usually a Jaguar or a BMW – from Scotland Yard, with a link to the control room, to ferry them to engagements.

In an earlier Lib Dem policy paper – Green Growth and Green Jobs – MPs and activists said: ‘Liberal Democrats would specify that by 2040, only ultra-low carbon vehicles will be permitted on UK roads for non-freight purposes. If technology permitted, we would bring forward this date.’

Street lights would also be dimmed where appropriate to cut down on energy use.

The Deputy Prime Minister and David Cameron both use cars – usually a Jaguar or a BMW – from Scotland Yard, with a link to the control room, to ferry them to engagements

Other controversial policies in the manifesto launched on Monday include a pay as you throw bin tax called a ‘variable waste charge for households’.

The party also opposes any plans for additional runways at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted and is against a new Thames Estuary airport touted by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

A Lib Dem spokesman said the green manifesto was a submission for consideration by the overall party. On the car ban, he added: ‘The companies need the incentive to change.

‘It is not beyond reasonable ambition to suggest the industry can adapt to a zero-emission target within the next 25 years.’

But Paul Watters, head of public affairs for the AA, said: ‘You can’t suddenly turn the clock off between 2039 and 2040. It needs to be a longer time frame.’

An RAC spokesman said: ‘This will be pretty unfair for a lot of motorists who invest in cars with the intention of keeping them for a long time.’

 

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singwhenyourwinning,

Maidstone, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Politics in the UK is in a real mess and for the first time ever I have no idea who to vote for.

All the parties are equally incompetent with the Lib Dems the worst of all. We have no leaders, no statesmen, everybody saying anything to get elected.

What a depressing situation for our great country!!

martin,

cranbrook,

1 hour ago

LibDems may be history in the not too distant future.

Robmatt72,

London,

1 hour ago

More to the point NO MORE Lib Dems by 2015 ….

arjxh72,

Sheffield, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

What can one say. The lib dems have taken over from the Looney left.

Carl Jones,

London, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

I think they just inflicted a mortal wound to the car industry. Mind you, that is the end of F1 and motor sport as we know it!!

Davethejag,

Stockton On Tees,

1 hour ago

The lib dems will have disappeared long before then!

martin,

cranbrook,

1 hour ago

If the world wants cars and we export cars, so much for LibDem thinking. The choice will not be theirs to make.

Cringeworthy,

Leicester, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Surely, there must be a law, by which the electorate can apply for referral of committal of an M.P. who demonstrates such a questionable level of sanity.

Cliveb4,

Cape Town,

1 hour ago

Is it something they put in their tea? Do they sit around a plastic table for an hour every morning, chins in hands, eyes lifted to the ceiling in what they call their ‘desperate ideas’ or ‘let’s think of something daft’ session.

Do the LibDems ever think something through, as in ‘engage brain before operating mouth’! As previous commentators have said, ‘where will they get the fuel tax?’ That is bloody obvious, they will tax recharging of a car or hydrogen gas that will be one of the fuels of the future. Technology will advance to the level whereby fossil fuels will be used less to a point when they will be deemed unnecessary but to ban petrol and diesel cars is just another stupid statement by these most stupid of politicians. This is akin to saying, and this is from the ‘something daft’ department, ”I know, let’s tell the gullible public that the sun will rise, umm. next Wednesday, that should show them we are worth our weight in teabags, eh Chuffers old chap!” Simple loony!

johnmurrell,

stoke on trent,

1 hour ago

So, where are they getting the energy needed to power all these millions of electric cars, they have not enough power stations to power houses. HS2 needs to be scrapped so the money can be used elsewhere.

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Lib Dems say ban all petrol and diesel cars by 2040 or earlier