Tensions within the Conservative party regarding the Net Zero agenda have escalated as a senior minister, Michael Gove, asserted that the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales is

non-negotiable. The Prime Minister had hinted at a potential reevaluation of the timeframe, leaving room for discussion.

In interviews, Gove emphasized that achieving the broader Net Zero goal by 2050 would not be attained by forcing citizens to make drastic sacrifices. However, when asked directly if the ban on fossil fuel cars by the end of the decade was unchangeable, he firmly stated, "Yes."

These statements come in the wake of Rishi Sunak's indications of possible reconsideration. The Chancellor avoided committing explicitly to the 2030 ban, and a government source suggested that Sunak would be open to reviewing the policy, considering the practicality and proportionality of the approach.

The recent Uxbridge by-election victory for the Tories raised questions about the Government's carbon emission reduction strategy. Tory MPs, including Craig Mackinlay and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, have expressed concerns over the 2030 car ban and called for a more measured approach to green policies.

Despite the calls for reevaluation, Gove stressed the importance of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 but acknowledged the need to strike a balance between environmental commitments and the financial burden placed on individuals, particularly amid high inflation. Photo by Vauxford, Wikimedia commons.