Fleet Evolution has criticized recent announcements by both the Conservative and Labour parties, stating that they are moving in the wrong direction at a time when more green investment is needed.
The salary sacrifice and fleet management specialist highlighted a U-turn last year by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on green policies, which included delaying the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by five years and weakening targets to phase out gas boilers.
Furthermore, the Labour Party, seen by many as the government-in-waiting, has announced a significant cut in a £28 billion spending plan first introduced in 2021 by Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Fleet Evolution (Credits: The World Economic Forum)
Andrew Leech, founder and managing director at Fleet Evolution, expressed concern that both political parties are sending the wrong message for the UK’s future green direction.
“Leading environmental experts, including Oxford University and the Arup Group, have forecast that new green industries could contribute $10.3 trillion to the world economy by 2050.
However, the Government and now the government-in-waiting have both rowed back on commitments to invest in the industries that will drive this change. As a business, we feel this is extremely shortsighted from both parties and misses a golden opportunity.”
Leech emphasized the potential of the new green industries, likening them to the start of a new industrial revolution. He noted the UK’s past leadership in industrial revolutions and highlighted the current opportunity to lead the green revolution, which could help address financial and climate challenges.
“While we strongly believe that products and infrastructure are very well placed to support the 60% of us who can charge at home, for the 40% that cannot – who live in flats with no access to home charging, for example – we are still woefully short of meeting their needs.”
He called for more time for local authorities to plan and introduce initiatives such as kerbside and lamp post charging for local communities. Leech emphasized the need for investment in the green revolution, stating that more investment is needed, not less.
