The manifestos for the coming elections next week highlight the importance of working towards a solution that will work for the automobile industry and tackle environmental impact.
Here is our summary of what the three main parties have promised in regard to Britain’s road network, the motoring industry and their ideas to reduce the effect of vehicle pollution on the environment.
Liberal Democrats
Under the section “Clean air and green transport” the Liberal Democrats have claimed that air pollution has cost the NHS £15bn and contributes to 40,000 premature deaths a year. If elected, they will pass a Green Transport Act and will initiate an Air Quality Plan which will include the following;
- Diesel Scrappage Scheme
- A Ban on diesel car sales by 2025
- Taxis and Buses to be low-emission in five years
- A Taxation reform
- Electric vehicle infrastructure
- Invest in Hydrogen fuel cell cars
Labour
Under the Section “Transport” in the Labour Manifesto, They promise to “invest in a modern, integrated, accessible and sustainable transport system that is reliable and affordable.” Labour focuses a lot on public transport and renationalises the railways. The whole section only mentions ‘cars’ once saying that Labour’s “plans will encourage people to get out of their cars, for better health and a cleaner environment.” The transport plans include;
- Road safety targets
- 5G coverage on roads and networks (next generation of mobile internet)
- Ultra-low emission vehicles
- Retro-fitting diesel buses
Conservative
The Conservative manifesto states “Brexit will define us: our place in the world, our economic security and our future prosperity”. The current government’s manifesto promises to focus on the following;
- Supporting car manufacturing
- All cars to be zero-emissions by 2050
- More low-emission buses
- Community mini-buses
- Uninterrupted mobile phone signal on 95% of major roads by 2022
- Digital infrastructure
- Program of support for autonomous and electric vehicles
