Andy Burnham to water down new rules on roads for drivers in England

Ministers prepared to act08:55, 10 Aug 2026Andy Burnham will look to water down the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, it has emerged, in a retreat from the net zero push. Labour Party ministers are planning to water down rules on electric car sales in England.‌The rules could mean that half the new cars sold at the end of the decade will still have petrol engines, The Times reports. As it stands, by 2030 only 20 per cent on roads in England would be allowed to use fossil fuel.‌Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, said Britain faced an “affordability challenge”. “We need to keep momentum [towards clean power],” she said. “But we’ve also got to do it in a way that works for people. And that is about affordability.”‌READ MORE HMRC new 'per mile' charges coming for drivers from Septembe