If the alternative is job losses then why isn’t the UK government already incentivising ‘green’ car sales?
It is perfectly reasonable for car manufacturers to ask the UK government for incentives for people to buy their vehicles, if the government is determined to push us away from fossil fuels and wants to penalise the firms if they fail to achieve this.
You’ll notice that neither the Tories nor Labour have anything to say about giving the public personal choice in this matter. Apparently (putting environmental concerns to one side for a moment) we only have a right to choice when it suits our masters – and remember that “masters” is exactly how they see themselves.
The alternative is job losses. And it’s all very well to say that the closure of the Vauxhall factor in Luton with the loss of 1,100 jobs was partly due to Brexit and/or increased competition, but forcing the manufacture of electric cars that people don’t want will have made it worse.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
It’s the same with Ford closing its Bridgend factory in 2020 with the loss of more than 1,600 jobs – because of Covid-19. Now another 800 Ford jobs are to go, nationally, partly due to competition but also partly due to the EV target.
The answer is to make electric vehicles attractive to buyers – which means making them cheaper, without depriving the manufacturers of the profits they need in order to survive.
But the Labour government’s Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds [pictured], will – quite reasonably – say that there is no room in public funds to provide that kind of help, without which there will be major job losses that jeopardise the overarching plan for higher employment and a resurgent economy.
Something has to give, and it will be interesting to see what it is.
This Writer thinks the government should work out an incentive package that is agreeable to consumers and manufacturers. The national finances can recover over time but UK citizens’ personal finances may not, if they lose their jobs at the same time as hundreds of other people near them.
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Why isn’t the UK government already incentivising ‘green’ car sales?
If the alternative is job losses then why isn’t the UK government already incentivising ‘green’ car sales?
It is perfectly reasonable for car manufacturers to ask the UK government for incentives for people to buy their vehicles, if the government is determined to push us away from fossil fuels and wants to penalise the firms if they fail to achieve this.
You’ll notice that neither the Tories nor Labour have anything to say about giving the public personal choice in this matter. Apparently (putting environmental concerns to one side for a moment) we only have a right to choice when it suits our masters – and remember that “masters” is exactly how they see themselves.
The alternative is job losses. And it’s all very well to say that the closure of the Vauxhall factor in Luton with the loss of 1,100 jobs was partly due to Brexit and/or increased competition, but forcing the manufacture of electric cars that people don’t want will have made it worse.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
It’s the same with Ford closing its Bridgend factory in 2020 with the loss of more than 1,600 jobs – because of Covid-19. Now another 800 Ford jobs are to go, nationally, partly due to competition but also partly due to the EV target.
The answer is to make electric vehicles attractive to buyers – which means making them cheaper, without depriving the manufacturers of the profits they need in order to survive.
But the Labour government’s Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds [pictured], will – quite reasonably – say that there is no room in public funds to provide that kind of help, without which there will be major job losses that jeopardise the overarching plan for higher employment and a resurgent economy.
Something has to give, and it will be interesting to see what it is.
This Writer thinks the government should work out an incentive package that is agreeable to consumers and manufacturers. The national finances can recover over time but UK citizens’ personal finances may not, if they lose their jobs at the same time as hundreds of other people near them.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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