Starmer’s Claimed Love for Driving and What It Means for UK Motorists
Well, it’s looking more and more like Keir Starmer and the Labour Party will be taking the reins come the next election in July 2024. Even the Conservatives seem to have thrown in the towel, practically conceding defeat already. The Tories are doing so poorly that there’s chatter about them not even being the main opposition. Can you imagine? But let’s leave that circus aside and get down to what really matters: what does all this mean for us motorists?
EVs and the Charging Conundrum
Labour has been making a lot of noise about their plans for electric vehicles (EVs). Remember when Rishi Sunak moved the ban on petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035? Labour wants to revert it back to 2030. But honestly, that change by Sunak was a bit of smoke and mirrors because of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. This mandate already aimed for 80% of vehicle sales to be electric by 2030, so did anything really change? Nope.
Labour is also promising to boost the public charging infrastructure. Yes, the same infrastructure that’s woefully inadequate right now. They want 300,000 new charging points by 2030. But here’s the kicker: even if they build all these chargers, who’s going to use them when it’s cheaper to charge at home? Public charging is hit with a hefty VAT, making it more expensive per mile than running a petrol car. So, we’re still stuck in this chicken and egg situation where we need chargers for EVs but won’t get enough EVs without chargers.
“Labour wants to revert the petrol and diesel car ban back to 2030. But honestly, that change by Sunak was a bit of smoke and mirrors because of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.”
Road Safety and Pothole Politics
Labour’s new road safety strategy aims to reduce traffic deaths and injuries. This likely means more 20mph zones and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs). You remember Labour in Wales, right? They tried to push these measures there, even though they had to backtrack. Labour claims they halved road fatalities between 1997 and 2010, and it’s only dropped 11% since the Tories have been in power, but isn’t this just the law of diminishing returns?
Then there’s the issue of potholes – the bane of every driver’s existence. Labour says they’ll fix a million potholes a year. Sounds great, but will it be enough?
They’re also looking into car insurance practices, especially the way premiums are set based on postcodes, which can unfairly target ethnic minorities and low-income drivers. Sounds noble, but I doubt the insurance companies will just roll over. They have their statistics and risk assessments, and they’re not going to change easily.
“Keir Starmer claims he loves driving, but does he really get it? He reminisces about his Morris Minor and Oxford Traveller, yet now he drives a Toyota hybrid.”
Starmer’s Driving Credentials
Now, let’s talk about Keir Starmer’s claim that he loves driving. He’s trying to relate to us, the great British motorists, but does he really get it?
He reminisces about his first car, a Morris Minor, and a Morris Oxford Traveller from his student days. Nostalgic, sure, but now he drives a Toyota hybrid. Is he a car guy? He says he’s not a petrolhead, but loves driving. Sounds like he’s trying to have his cake and eat it too.
Starmer wants to position Labour as the friend of the motorist. But given Labour’s track record, can we believe that?
Rishi Sunak also tried the “relatable car guy” routine, but it fell flat when he claimed he just uses a ‘ageing’ Volkswagen Golf around town.
Please. You’re a billionaire. Own it. Apparently he owns a Range Rover, Lexus and BMW. I want to hear him say, ‘yeah I got an M3 with the Competition pack, but I’m thinking of getting the manual M2’ – that a petrolhead makes!
So, as we edge closer to the 2024 election, it’s crucial to scrutinise Labour’s promises to us motorists. Starmer might claim he loves driving, but we need to see real action, not just words. Labour’s plans for EV infrastructure, road safety, and insurance reforms sound good on paper, but will they deliver? Or will they continue the so-called ‘war on motorists’?
Stay tuned and keep a close eye on these developments. And make sure to watch my full video for a deeper dive into what Labour’s motoring policies might mean for you.
Does anyone know what Labour’s policy is on Classic car VED road tax exemption? Will they keep the free road tax for classics over 40 years old on a rolling basis? Will they freeze the exemption at cars built before 1984? Or will they scrap it the free road tax for classic cars completely? There seems to be no mention of this in the Labour manifesto?
Does anyone know what Labour’s policy is on Classic car VED road tax exemption? Will they keep the free road tax for classics over 40 years old on a rolling basis? Will they freeze the exemption at cars built before 1984? Or will they scrap it the free road tax for classic cars completely? There seems to be no mention of this in the Labour manifesto?
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They could do anything frankly.
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