Furious drivers attack Labour's 'war on motorists' by protesting outside conference

The Alliance of British Drivers protesting

GOFUNDME
Felix Reeves

By Felix Reeves


Published: 09/10/2023

- 12:57

Only a quarter of Red Wall voters back Labour’s pledge to reintroduce the 2030 car ban

A leading motoring organisation has called on Sir Keir Starmer to drop his plans for the 2030 car ban pledge and end the party’s war on motorists.

The Alliance of British Drivers has protested the beginning of the Labour Party Conference calling on drivers to let politicians on all sides know how they feel.


The ABD has launched a new campaign dubbed “Just Stop Labour’s War on Motorists”, demanding change from the political party to protect drivers.

This has been sparked by motorists becoming more vocal about policies being rolled out to crack down on driving and daily fees road users are expected to pay.

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There have been a number of widespread protests in response to the rollout of the Ultra Low Emission Zone scheme in London and the new 20mph speed limits in Wales.

The ABD has also launched a new manifesto, calling on the Government to scrap the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles entirely and “let the market decide” when EVs are ready for uptake.

It highlights how synthetic e-fuels could be a more sustainable way for the car market to embrace internal combustion engine vehicles for longer.

In September, Rishi Sunak announced that the Government would be delaying the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 to 2035.

He said this was being done to allow the upfront cost of an electric vehicle to come down and let drivers choose when they want to switch.

Data from the Alliance found that only a quarter of Red Wall voters back Labour’s pledge to reintroduce the 2030 car ban.

Commenting on the data, Bob Bull, Chairman of the ABD, said: “This poll is further dramatic proof that the British public is fed up with being hassled, harassed and heavily taxed every time they get behind the wheel of a car.

“Rishi Sunak has started to see the light with his decision to delay the ban on conventionally-powered cars but he still has a long way to go.

“As for Sir Keir Starmer, he should wake up and listen to the voters. Only one in four people back his 2030 deadline. The truth is we don’t need this meddling by ministers.”

Other key pledges in the manifesto call on the Government to stop lowering speed limits and allowing residents to overturn low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and clean air zones.

It also believes that taxes collected for using roads, like tolls, should be spent on improving road infrastructure and fixing the UK’s plague of potholes.

Bob Hull continued, saying: “They should let the market decide when and if electric cars become the norm.

“Motorists should be free to stick with petrol and diesel cars if they wish and free to switch to an electric vehicle when the technology, especially range and the availability of charging points, persuades them that it is time for a change.

“The same should apply to LTNs and so-called clean air zones. If local residents don’t want them they should be free to tell the council so and get them removed from their neighbourhood.”

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Just Stop Labour's War on Motorists

The Alliance of British Drivers has slammed Labour's war on motorists

Alliance of British Drivers

The ABD has launched a GoFundMe, with money raised being used to place advertising vans and campaign messages in “headline grabbing positions” in the run-up to the next general election.

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