Labour's Net Zero ban on new diesel lorries would be scrapped by Tories

Published: 01:10, 20 August 2026 | Updated: 01:10, 20 August 2026 Labour's Net Zero ban on new HGVs would be scrapped under the Tories to stop the cost of goods and inflation spiralling. Kemi Badenoch's party vowed to reverse the Government's 'ideological' plans to phase out diesel trucks and lorries in favour of electric vehicles if they return to power. The party claims the plans would have a 'devastating' impact on the cost of transporting food and other essential goods. It came as the Tories branded Andy Burnham 'too chicken' to approve drilling in two oil and gas fields in the North Sea. Their policy would scrap a 2040 ban on new heavy goods vehicles that produce emissions and an interim 2035 ban on smaller lorries.  The Tories also vowed to abolish grants that discount electric vans and trucks, freeing up £877million of funding allocated for such purchases up to 2030. Tory transport spokesman Richard Holden said banning diesel lorries would increase the cost of transporting food and produce around the UK. The Tories have vowed to reverse the Government's 'ideological' plans to phase out diesel trucks and lorries in favour of electric vehicles if they return to power (Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is pictured) Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been accused of being 'too chicken'  'Britain's hauliers keep our shelves stocked and our economy moving. Just as drivers should be able to choose the car that works for them, businesses should be able to choose the truck that works for them,' he said. 'Labour are spending £877million of taxpayers' money chasing targets they plainly cannot meet. 'Their blinkered eco zealotry risks imposing huge costs on hauliers operating on wafer-thin margins, which will ultimately be paid by families at the checkout.' And Tory energy spokesman Claire Coutinho yesterday criticised the Prime Minister for not having made a decision to approve drilling in Scottish oil and gas fields Jackdaw and Rosebank. Mr Burnham is due to decide whether to give the sites the green light after a consultation on new drilling closed on Monday. Reports suggest he is likely to approve Jackdaw but may not grant permission for Rosebank after opposition from Labour MPs. Rosebank is the largest untapped oil field in the North Sea. The Government is expected to make a decision next month. But Ms Coutinho accused the Prime Minister of 'shirking decisions' as she made the case for her party ditching plans for Net Zero. She said: 'I actually think this is worse than the Ed Miliband position because Andy Burnham knows that it's right to sign off those two fields – he's just too chicken to do it. 'And the truth is, the gas that you get from the North Sea has far fewer emissions than the gas that you import from overseas. So it's actually better for climate, for us, to use our own.'  She has backed plans to end Labour's focus on Net Zero in favour of affordable energy, which she said would save families £540 a year by 2050.  She cited analysis by think-tank Onward which suggests that slowing the shift to renewable energy in favour of gas and nuclear will lower energy bills. The commitments under Mrs Badenoch mark a departure from previous Tory policies. Theresa May introduced the policy of meeting Net Zero – which requires the amount of greenhouse gases being produced to be balanced against that being removed – in 2019. Commitments to ban emission-producing HGVs were introduced under Boris Johnson in 2021 to help the UK reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.