Ed Miliband is under growing pressure today as the UK’s plan to phase out petrol and diesel cars by 2035 comes under renewed scrutiny.
The Net Zero Secretary now finds himself isolated after the European Union dramatically shifted its stance, abandoning the strict rules that had previously guided member states.
The change has sparked fresh debate over whether Britain should reconsider its ambitious timetable for reducing carbon emissions from vehicles.
EU Abandons Blanket Ban
The move came after Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, confirmed that the EU is dropping the blanket ban on combustion engines.
Weber explained that the bloc will instead adopt more flexible rules aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from cars, leaving individual countries free to set their own policies.
“For new registrations from 2035 onwards, a 90 percent reduction in CO2 emissions will now be mandatory for car manufacturers’ fleet targets, instead of 100 percent,” Weber told Germany’s Bild.
“There will also be no 100 percent target from 2040 onwards.
The technology ban on combustion engines is off the table.
All engines currently manufactured in Germany can therefore continue to be produced and sold.”
Industry and Government Push for Flexibility
Weber said the decision sends a clear message to the automotive industry, protecting tens of thousands of jobs in one of Europe’s most important sectors.
Several EU nations, including Germany, Italy, and others, along with major carmakers such as Volkswagen, Stellantis, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, had lobbied for softer regulations.
Their argument has focused on technological neutrality, allowing consumers and countries to choose which vehicles to support rather than imposing strict bans.
UK Ministers Stand Firm—For Now
Despite the EU’s move, UK ministers have insisted that the domestic timetable will remain.
Currently, Britain plans to ban sales of fully petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and hybrid vehicles by 2035.
However, the change in Europe has sparked calls for reconsideration, particularly from voices concerned about cost, consumer choice, and the pace of infrastructure development.
Shadow Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho urged the government to embrace flexibility.
“Rather than banning, taxing, and forcing people into electric cars, the Government should get out of the way and back consumer choice,” she told The Telegraph.
“We have to repeal the net zero legislation, cut people’s electricity bills, and allow them to buy the products they want when they want to.”
Challenges for Electric Vehicle Adoption
European carmakers have struggled to match the rapid influx of affordable Chinese electric vehicles into the EU market.
Sigrid de Vries, director general at the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), said the previous 2035 target is no longer realistic without sufficient charging infrastructure and grid improvements.
“Today’s CO2 regulation focuses only on new vehicle supply, without doing enough to spark real demand,” de Vries said.
“It doesn’t link infrastructure, cost of ownership, or incentives with competitiveness and resilience.”
What This Means for Britain
The EU’s shift could influence UK policy and put pressure on the government to reconsider its deadlines.
With technological advances, consumer demand, and energy infrastructure all playing critical roles, the debate over petrol and diesel vehicles remains far from settled.
As the UK navigates its path toward net zero, the choices made in the coming months could shape both industry and consumers for decades to come.
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