DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Now slam the brakes on the dash for eco-cars

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Now slam the brakes on the dash for eco-cars By Daily Mail Comment Published: 00:51, 8 July 2023 | Updated: 01:00, 8 July 2023 e-mail View comments We all want to see Britain become a country where only zero-emission electric cars glide silently around our streets. Our nation would be greener, its air cleaner and the population healthier. Even so, the Mail makes no apologies for opposing the ban on sales of new petrol or diesel vehicles from 2030 – a key plank of the Government’s dash to Net Zero.

It was reckless for politicians, desperate to signal their green virtues, to impose such a tight deadline with seemingly no regard for the economic and social harm. Our ‘Rethink The 2030 Petrol Car Ban’ campaign has highlighted gaping flaws with this hasty transition to electric cars. The technology is embryonic, the cost is eye-watering and there are question marks over their efficiency.

And where exactly will the power to run them come from? Shocking figures reveal Westminster alone has more charging points than six major cities in the Midlands and the North combined. Unless the Government spends vast sums expanding the network, how will motorists outside London manage? Shocking figures reveal Westminster alone has more charging points than six major cities in the Midlands and the North combined. Unless the Government spends vast sums expanding the network, how will motorists outside London manage? Patchy public transport means their cars are necessities, not leather-lined luxuries.

This fuels suspicions that this policy is being driven by an out-of-touch metropolitan elite. For now, ministers should slam on the brakes. Threat to free Press If the opinion polls, which give Labour a whopping 20-point lead, are correct, the Tories face a bloodbath at the election.

Looking back over their 13 years in power, it’s difficult to pinpoint any major Conservative achievements (except, of course, Brexit, but that was foisted on them by a determined public). Yet the Tories still have time to make it harder for a Labour government to stamp its invidious mark on the country. One way would be to repeal the notorious Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, as promised.

If the opinion polls, which give Labour a whopping 20-point lead, are correct, the Tories face a bloodbath at the election (Pictured – Labour leader Keir Starmer) This pernicious piece of legislation would force newspapers that refuse to sign up to the state-backed watchdog (i. e. the vast majority) to pay the legal costs of anyone who sued – win or lose.

That would have a lethal effect on press freedom. Troublingly, Labour says there is no point repealing it because it has never been enacted. This is disingenuous nonsense.

While Section 40 remains on the statute book, any future Left-wing government could trigger it to force newspapers into regulation controlled by its fellow travellers. The danger for the Tories is obvious. However becalmed the Government is, it has a powerful 60-seat majority.

Rishi Sunak must use it to consign this unjust and illiberal law to the dustbin of history. Woefully woke Bank The Bank of England has one core job: To keep inflation at 2 per cent. With prices surging at an unacceptable 8.

7 per cent, it is a mandate which its governor, Andrew Bailey, has patently failed to achieve. His lamentable sluggishness in raising interest rates enough to shackle inflation has caused needless pain. Families struggle to pay bills, millions face mortgage misery.

Given his culpability, you might think Mr Bailey would be moving heaven and earth to extract us from this grim economic mire. Well, think again. The Bank of England has one core job: To keep inflation at 2 per cent.

With prices surging at an unacceptable 8. 7 per cent, it is a mandate which its governor, Andrew Bailey, has patently failed to achieve Staff are required in the office for a mere two days a week, as the Bank embraces home working. And it is wasting time planning to install green heat pumps at its HQ, while showcasing its woke LGBTQ credentials by writing official dossiers which say people of any gender can get pregnant.

So maybe we shouldn’t be surprised Bank chiefs have proved so inept at controlling inflation. If they are incapable of grasping the simplest facts of biology, what chance do they have of understanding the more complex business of macroeconomics? Share or comment on this article: DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Now slam the brakes on the dash for eco-cars e-mail Add comment Comments 0 Share what you think No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Add your comment Enter your comment By posting your comment you agree to our house rules . Submit Comment Clear Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. No Yes Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline.

To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook.

Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy . More top stories.