Tory MPs challenged after electric car pledge is dropped

Brighton and Hove’s Conservative MPs have been urged to challenge their party on the decision to scrap a pledge to install a network of electric vehicle charging points.

There are currently just two electric charge points in the city, but this was set to be increased through a scheme proposed under the Labour government.

However, the Conservative-led government has reduced the electric car grant scheme’s budget from £250m to £43m despite a pre-election pledge to commit to a network of charging points, according to Gill Mitchell, Labour’s leader in Brighton and Hove.

Cllr Mitchell has written to Mike Weatherley (MP for Hove and Portslade) and Simon Kirby (MP for Brighton Kemptown) to urge action on the issue, which she says has been met with widespread criticism, including from local consumer group Elektromotive.

Elektromotive recently revealed the results of a study that showed two third of motorists would consider purchasing an electric vehicle if more charging points were available at roadsides and in car parks.

Cllr Mitchell said: “I am extremely concerned at government plans to drop not only a Labour policy, but also a manifesto pledge and a coalition agreement to commit to a network of electric vehicle charging points. That’s why I’m calling on our two Tory MPs to urge their Government colleagues to reverse this cut.

“This Tory-led Government has made U-turn after U-turn- especially when it comes to the environment- which they seem to be trying to steer off the agenda. It’s a shame they haven’t got the same enthusiasm for reducing carbon emissions as they have with too hastily reducing the deficit.

“Industry figures have predicted that 2011 will be a “breakthrough” year for electric vehicle technology and if this government really were the greenest ever, then they would remain committed to cutting carbon emissions and investing in this green technology.”

In her letters to the MPs, Cllr Mitchell said: “I would urge you to contact your colleagues in Government without delay and advise them to reverse this latest U-turn and stick to their original commitments for a “national network” of EV charging points.  If Britain is serious about becoming a low carbon country, then in order to encourage the move away from polluting petrol engines, a cleaner alternative must be readily accessible.”

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Posted by Joseph Lewis on July 2, 2011. Filed under Brighton Environment News,Conservatives,Labour. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry