The motorist’s guide to the election: What the parties promise drivers
Motorists face major changes over the next parliament as the switch to electric vehicles gathers pace and debate rages over everything from road tax, to parking and low emmissions zones.
So, what are the major political parties promising drivers in the general election - and are they paying enough attention to them?
This is Money has sifted through the manifestos, focusing on the policies aimed at you the motorist.
Here's what the leading parties propose for drivers and a bit of an insight into what their relationship with cars and driving is like.
With every party manifesto now available to read online, drivers can see which policies will affect them come July 4.
This is Money has sifted through each party's manifesto to give our readers a clear guide to motoring pledges that will your daily driving habits
Labour: Filling potholes
The Labour Manifesto is based on its Based on 'Driving a Growing Economy: Labour's Plan for the Automotive Sector'[1] published in October 2023.
Labour is supporting drivers and the automotive industry, with a focus on the switch to electric cars. The biggest change would be reinstating the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
Keir Starmer's bigchange would be reinstating the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Labour has doubled down on the EV policies in its automotive plan. Labour said it will support the transition to EVs by: Accelerating the rollout of charge points, giving certainty to manufacturers by restoring the 2023 phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars, and supporting buyers of second-hand EVs by standardising the information supplied on the condition of batteries.
In its automotive plan Labour addressed EVs saying it would:
- It would set new binding targets for EV charging point rollout
- Release and redirect the existing GBP950 million Rapid Charging Fund announced in 2020
- Remove planning barriers to chargepoint rollout such as rapid charger heigh restrictions
- Make chargepoint data open access
- Introduce Electric Vehicle Confident labelling requirement on new EVs, similar to the Monroney sticker used in the US
- Establish an international buyers' club for critical minerals and interconnectors, and cross-government oversight on end-of-life batteries
Labour has also said it will invest GBP1.5 billion in new gigafactories 'so our automotive industry leads the world'.
While not directly an investment in automotive, Labour has also pledged GBP500 million to support the production of green hydrogen, which some players see as an alternative zero emission option to battery electric cars.
Road network
Labour says it will 'maintain and renew our road network' by fixing an additional one million potholes across England each year of the next parliament.
This will be funded by deferring the A27 bypass 'which is poor value for money'.
The bypass has already been delayed under the Conservative party until at least 2025.
The biggest reason for the cost increase came from the massive hike in insurance premiums - something This is Money has covered in detail
Car Insurance
Labour has said it 'will further support drivers by tackling the soaring cost of car insurance' but has not gone into further detail.
However at the Labour Party conference last year, Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said the Financial Conduct Authority and the Competition and Markets Authority would be instructed to launch formal investigations into the soaring price of car insurance[2].
Haigh also said the 14-day free cancellation car insurance window would be extended, and unfair postcode pricing would be looked into.
Who's in the driving seat?
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has been wooing motorists on the campaign trail with tales of how he 'loves driving', although it should be noted he says he 'isn't a petrolhead'. Growing up in a rural area he said of driving that 'it's in his blood' and 'getting a car was the single most important thing in his life'.
His first car was a black Morris Minor, followed by a 1962 dark green C-reg Morris Oxford Traveller nicknamed 'the hedge' because of the moss growing out of it. Now he drives a sensible Toyota hybrid.
And it's not just the Labour leader with a love of cars: Joshua Reynolds, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy, also says 'cars are in his blood growing up in Sunderland, home of the Nissan factory'.
Apparently many of his school friends 'still work in that factory today'.
Reactions the to Labour manifesto
The RAC is 'pleased to see major concerns for drivers, such as local road maintenance and the transition to electric vehicles, high on the list of Labour's priorities if they win power'. But the AA calls out the lack of detail around the reallocation of HS2 funding to potholes, and Labour not mentioning the ZEV mandate or reintroducing a plug-in car grant to bring down the cost of EVs.
The AA is pleased the 'Labour Manifesto reflects many of the policies outlined in The AA Motoring Manifesto' and that 'this election has put motorists in the driving seat'. But the organisation stresses the 2030 reinstating needs to accompanied by an acceleration of chargepoint rollout, investment in gigafactories and supporting drivers making the switch.
The Conservative kept to a promise to reverse ULEZ, keep the 2035 deadline for EVs and expand the road network
The Conservatives: Banning ULEZ
Based on its 'Plan for Drivers'[3] published in October 2023.
EVs and job creation
The Conservatives said they will make sure 'charging infrastructure is truly nationwide, including rapid charging'.
They've also said they will deliver the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate to 'support manufacturers to safeguard skilled British jobs'.
They will also push on with the Advanced Manufacturing Plan - a GBP4.5 billion commitment to secure strategic manufacturing sectors - with automotive being one of them.
Automated vehicles
Claim automated vehicles will be on British roads in the next Parliament 'thanks to our new world-leading legislation'.
The Tories will rule out top-down blanket Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones, instead only considering them on a road-by-road basis and support of residents
ULEZ
The manifesto will reverse ULEZ[4] which has 'moderate' or 'minor' effect on pollution.
Investment in automotive:
The Conservative Manifesto calls the car industry 'the jewel of our manufacturing crown' and promises to 'always back our world-leading automotive industry, which faces unprecedented competition from China in the electric vehicles market'.
They say the 'dire warning Brexit would lead to major brands leaving our shores' 'was wrong'. It points to evidence in the form of GBP4 billion invested in the Jaguar Land Rover gigafactory in Somerset, Nissan's GBP2 billion investment in two new EV models being built in Sunderland and BMW's GBP600 million investment in all-electric Mini Coopers in Oxfordshire.
The Conservatives also promise to back domestic manufactures if other countries are breaking global trade rules.
Road network
The Conservatives have said they'll invest GBP8.3 billion to fill potholes and resurface roads, and 'will bring forward funding into this financial year and the next'. Part of this funding will come from the cancelled second phase of HS2.
The party says it has 'invested GBP40 billion in England strategic roads between 2015 and 2025' and will deliver 'further investment' in the next Road Investment Strategy.
It'll expand the major road network by delivering the Lower Thames Crossing and the A303.
This will be joined by the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham which was set out in the Conservative Network North plan.
They will also maintain their pledge to build no new smart motorways and invest in improving the safety of existing ones.
Banning road pricing across all local councils and mayoral seats so driver's don't pay per mile is promised in the next King's Speech.
The Tories will maintain their pledge to build no new smart motorways and invest in improving the safety of existing ones
Road safety
The Tories will rule out top-down blanket Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones, instead only considering them on a road-by-road basis and support of residents. Any new schemes will be put to a referendum and there will be a 'right to challenge' existing schemes.
Parking
This year the Tories will create a new National Parking Platform to simplify paying for parking, and give councils the power to ban pavement parking when appropriate to help older and disabled people.
Points for fly tipping
Illegal fly tipping will now add penalty points onto your driving licence. Currently to combat waste dumping offenders get a fixed penalty notice and a GBP200 fine, but now face points on their licence.
Who's in the driving seat?
In 2016 Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper posted on Facebook that he'd finally said goodbye to his Land Rover Discovery of 16 years, swapping to a Nissan Pulsar.
It was on a three year hire contract so whether he's held onto the hatchback like his beloved Disco is unknown...
At the Tory Party Conference last year he said the Conservatives are 'proudly' in favour of the car, and he recently announced the ongoing classic car call for evidence at Bicester Heritage.
Reactions to the Conservative manifesto
The RAC head of policy Simon Williams says 'it's positive that the Tories have pledged to roll out the Pumpwatch scheme and launch a National Parking Platform' but lists a number of things that 'are disappointing'.
The RAC would have liked to see a mention of road causality reduction targets, more pothole funding other than HS2 reallocation and a need to replace fuel duty taxation revenue as we switch to EVs.
The AA's CEO Jakob Pfaudler welcomed the confirmation of the GBP8.3bn HS2 reallocation for potholes and the confirmation of infrastructure funding but is concerned that the Tories will continue with the current smart motorways.
The election manifestos: what they mean for you
The economy, tax and people's finances are a cornerstone of the all the manifestos, but what are the main parties proposing and what could it mean for you?
The This is Money podcast takes a dive into the manifestos to see what's there.
Press play to listen to the episode on the player above, or listen (and please subscribe and review us if you like the podcast) at Apple Podcasts[5], [6] Audioboom[7] and Spotify[8] or visit our This is Money Podcast page[9].Reform: Scrap the new petrol car ban
Reform's manifesto openly wants to stop 'the war on motorists' and is the most radical when it comes to reversing zero emission legislation.
Reform would scrap ULEZ and low emission zones, as well as the 2035 deadline and ZEV mandate
EVs
Reform says it will scrap the 2035ban on selling petrol and diesel cars, and scrap the legal requirements manufacturers are currently set to sell EVs (ZEV mandate).
The manifesto also says it 'increase and incentivise UK lithium mining for electric batteries'[10] as part of a push for cleaner energy.
By scrapping Net Zero (and making energy savings) Reform claims it will save GBP30 billion in annualised savings over a five year electoral term.
ULEZ
Reform will 'stop the War on Motorists' by legislating to ban all ULEZ and LTNs.
Under Reform all low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) will be scrapped along with ULEZ and 2035 ICE ban
Road network
Reform will accelerate already announced transport infrastructure - which includes the new GBP4.7 billion Local Transport Fund announced in February by the Tories - particularly focusing on the North.
A national database for councils, contractors, government and utilities would be launched to coordinate projects, and reduce road works, waste and delays.
All funding would be held under a single government infrastructure funding scheme, while Reform will merge the National Infrastructure Commission and the Infrastructure Bank.
Reform claims it will save GBP5 billion in annualised savings over a five year electoral term across Transport and Utilities.
Fuel
While not specified in the manifesto, at the Reform party's battle plan event in January, Richard Tice, former leader and current Chairman of Reform, said the party would cut fuel duty by 20p.
Who's in the driving seat?
Reform Leader Nigel Farage has quite the history with cars. He owns a Volvo V70 which he upgraded from a K reg Volvo through the scrappage scheme. In 2017 after his V70 crashed on way from Brussels to Dunkirk, French police concluded the wheel nuts had been deliberately unscrewed.
While on I'm a Celebrity, Farage told his campmates about the time 'he got run over'.
In his book he recalls being hit by a VW Beetle in 1985, aged 19, which threw him into the air. He landed on his head but had a miracle escape after a two-month stint in hospital.
Reactions to the Reform manifesto
As yet no institution has commented on Reform's motoring manifesto points but these will be added as they come.
The Liberal Democrats: Bring back EV grants
The Liberal Democrat manifesto has many EV-focused policies, in particular wanting to help people affordto go electric
EVs
The Lib Dems will 'make it cheaper and easier to switch to electric vehicles' by bringing back the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars and small vans.
At the same time they will tackle charging infrastructure by rolling out more charging points - both on-street and ultra-fast chargers at service stations - and requiring all charging points to be bank card payment compatible.
VAT on public charging will be slashed to 5 per cent[11] - something industry has been calling for as part of the 'fair tax for a fair transition' lobbying.
And to entice private drivers into EVs, they will reinstate the plug-in car grant. It stopped in June 2022, and originally gave buyers GBP5,000 towards a new EV, later reduced to GBP1,500.
Car insurance
Liberal Democrats will 'protect motorists from unfair insurance', but further detail was not given.
DVLA services at the Post Office
The manifesto pledges to keep the DVLA services available at Post Office counters - currently due to expire in April 2025 - which allow drivers to renew licences and buy road tax (and other applications) in person.
Fuel
They will also protect motorists from 'rip-off' petrol prices, investigating fuel prices[12] and looking at the disparity between wholesale prices falling and the lag until these are reflected at the pump.
Through the Rural Fuel Duty Relief the manifesto promises to lower fuel prices for rural drivers.
The Rural Fuel Duty Relief gives a 5p a litre rebate to forecourts in remote areas, which can't benefit from low transport costs and bulk discounts. The Relief stops these costs being passed onto the motorist.
Job creation
To improve the shortage of skilled workers the Lib Dems will increase the take-up of apprenticeships, guaranteeing the National Minimum Wage will be paid.
National Colleges will be developed as centres of expertise and a place to develop automotive skills.
'Fixing the work visa system' will take the issue of lack of skilled foreign vehicle technicians post-Brexit.
The lib Dems will ban Chinese imports from regions with controversial labour practices which could affect some brand's supply chains
Chinese imports
Although not directly referencing cars, the Lib Dems say they will ban Chinese imports from 'areas with with egregious abuses, such as Xinjiang'.
The region has controversial labour practices, especially around the production of aluminium, which has been linked via suppliers to several large manufacturers including BMW, Volkswagen, GM, Nio and BYD.
The EU just announced plans to hit cheap Chinese EV imports with additional tariffs of almost 50 per cent from July.
Who's in the driving seat?
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, and spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change and Transport frequently comments in Parliament on needing a cheaper transition to EVs (Hobhouse is pro-EV) and chairs industry roundtables on the subject. She's also test-driven the Toyota Mirai hydrogen car around Bath.
Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader, was caught speeding in his Ford B-Max doing 73mph in a 60mph zone on the M1.
However, he forgot to give details of his driving licence when he attempted to pay the Fixed Penalty Notice, resulting in a further fine and three points on his licence in June.
Reactions to the Lib Dem manifesto
The RAC 'welcomes promises of more money for local road maintenance, ensuring fuel prices are fair and additional support for the transition to electric vehicles' but calls out the 'lack of clear spending allocation'.
Transport & Environment UK Policy Manager Matt Finch praises the fact that 'the Lib Dems have seen that an upgraded national electricity grid comes hand in hand with improving the nation's charging infrastructure for electric vehicles'.
The Green Party: A total ban on petrol cars
The Green Party has made it clear in its manifesto that cars are not the future
EVs
Elected Greens say they want all petrol and diesel cars to be replaced by EVs within the next decade, with a 2027 ban on new sales and total end of use ban on existing fuel cars by 2035.
An extensive vehicle scrappage scheme will support this, with funding rising to GBP5 billion by the end of the parliament, supported by the rollout of rapid charging points.
Green Party says it would 'push government to 'transition to a zero-carbon society as soon as possible, and more than a decade ahead of 2050'.
Part of this 2040 push will be a zero carbon electricity supply, with 'sufficient electricity for all cars and vans to be electric'.
All homes will also stop using fossil fuels under the Greens, which presumedly means anyone charging an EV at home will also use clean energy.
The manifesto also says there will be 'more batteries to store' which is to be provided by wind by 2030. This may include used EV batteries, but is not specified.
The Greens estimated the cost of reducing the climate impact of road transport will cost GBP4 billion.
The Greens are pushing for clean energy by 2040, and will bring forward the 2035 ban to 2027, and even ban all petrol and diesel cars from the road entirely by 2035
ULEZ
The short term future of ULEZ before the Green's proposed 2027 and 2035 bans would be in place is not specifically mentioned, but the Green Party will introduce a Clean Air Act 'to set new air quality standards for the UK'. What this entails for LEZ and ULEZ is not expanded upon.
Fuel
The Green Party wants to cut overall vehicle use, saying it's 'time to shift the transport system away from cars and roads', with a move to cleaner public transport instead.
Part of this would be attained by restoring the fuel-duty escalator - originally used infer the Conservative and Labour Governments between 1993 and 2000, which raised duty by a percentage each year.
Carla Denyer, co-leader of The Green Party, has said that 'instead of freezing fuel duty The Green Party would introduce GBP1 single bus fares in England and free bus travel for young people'.
The Green manifesto wants to 'apply a Carbon Tax' - this will likely increase the cost of petrol and diesel.
Road network
Another Green measure to move away from cars would be the introduction of road pricing.
The Greens also say they will set a 20mph default speed limit on roads (LTNs) in all built-up areas 'allowing children, the elderly and disabled people to walk and wheel safely'.
And the manifesto proposes introducing a road tax proportional to vehicle weight and opposing all new road building plans.
All of these plans directly contrast the Conservative manifesto.
Roads will also be repurposed for safer streets and active travel in line with Active Travel England's 50 per cent quota for all trips in England's towns and cities to be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2023.
Who's in the driving seat?
No Green Party candidate is likely to be making a personal connection to motoring anytime soon.
Instead co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay have said that '20 per cent of Brits have no access to a car, and 25 per cent are currently reliant on a car but don't want to be'.
Reactions to the Green manifesto
The IFS says: While 'it is clear where the Green Party's ambitions lie - a much bigger role for the state, better funded public services, and, of course, a swifter transition to net zero [...] it is unlikely that the specific tax-raising measures they propose to help achieve all this would raise the sorts of sums they claim - and certainly not without real economic cost.'
Election Money
References
- ^ 'Driving a Growing Economy: Labour's Plan for the Automotive Sector' (labour.org.uk)
- ^ car insurance (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ 'Plan for Drivers' (www.gov.uk)
- ^ ULEZ (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ Apple Podcasts (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ (www.acast.com)
- ^ Audioboom (audioboom.com)
- ^ Spotify (open.spotify.com)
- ^ This is Money Podcast page (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ UK lithium mining for electric batteries' (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ VAT on public charging will be slashed to 5 per cent (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ 'rip-off' petrol prices, investigating fuel prices (www.thisismoney.co.uk)