Rishi Sunak under new pressure to woo drivers as poll shows Labour is now more popular with car owners as he targets low-traffic neighbourhoods and 20mph zones – amid Tory row over electric cars

Rishi Sunak is facing increasing pressure to become more pro-driver after a new poll suggested Labour is now more popular with car owners. 

Sir Keir Starmer‘s opposition has a nine-point lead over the Tories with people who drive personal motorised vehicles, to go with its massive lead over people who do not have a car.

The poll by Redfield and Wilton Strategies was carried out on Sunday, as the PM unveiled new measures to potentially limit low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and 20mph zones that critics say hinder workers. 

It also came after a massive row over London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) tax being introduced by Labour mayor Sadiq Khan dominated a recent by-election in Uxbridge that the Tories won by campaigning on the single issue.

The Conservatives have traditionally polled better among car owners than Labour. But the R&WS analysis shows that more of its car-owning supporters also drive hybrid and electric vehicles than their Labour counterparts, due to generally being better off and able to make the early switch.

It comes amid a row between ministers over electric cars ahead of plans to ban new diesel and petrol sales in 2030. 

Starting next year, at least 22 per cent of vehicles made in the UK will have to be electric, with manufacturers facing fines of up to £15,000 per vehicle if they miss the quota. 

Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, is said to be lobbying for this rule to be softened, with a spokesman telling Politico: ‘Kemi has been raising their concerns with colleagues in the Cabinet.’

Sir Keir Starmer’s opposition has a nine-point lead over the Tories with people who drive personal motorised vehicles, to go with its massive lead over people who do not have a car.

The poll by Redfield and Wilton Stategies was carried out on Sunday, as the PM unveiled new measures to potentially limit low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and 20mph zones that critics say hinder workers.

Transport minister Richard Holden today became the latest figure to suggest that the Government will not delay its ban on new diesel and petrol car sales, due to come in to force in 2030.

Transport minister Richard Holden today became the latest figure to suggest that the Government will not delay the diesel and petrol ban. 

Mr Holden said that hybrid cars would be available until 2035 and second hand sales of petrol and diesel cars would continue ‘for many years to come’.

And he suggested manufacturers had already factored the 2030 cut-off into designs, telling Sky News: ‘We are moving in one direction on this.’

‘When you produce a car you produce them on roughly around seven-year cycles. The cars which are already in design now are the ones being produced in 2030,’ he added.

‘There are billions and billions of pounds of investment going into design for new vehicles, they are already going to be produced for the future. Some are going to be hybrid up to 2035 but that is where we already are, they are already in train on this…

This is real investment in the UK which is going to put us at the cutting edge of the next generation of manufacturing jobs right up and down the country.’

Rishi Sunak has ordered ministers to review the proliferation of LTNS and the blanket imposition of 20 mile-an-hour zones.

Future guidance on clean air zones is already under review following controversy over Sadiq Khan‘s plans for a massive expansion of the £12.50-a-day Ulez tax on older cars in London.

Ministers are also considering a big expansion of funding for filling in potholes, as they seek to make support for the motorist a key dividing line with Labour at next year’s election. Town centre parking will also be examined.

Today it was revealed that councils in London spent £500,000 last year to fix LTN cameras which were wrecked by angry drivers, figures have revealed. 

The figures obtained via a freedom of information request by LBC cover nine councils which reported vandalism between April 2022 and April 2023.

Some councils said paintball guns were fired at the cameras, while others said the cameras were moved to be pointed upwards rather than at traffic.

At least two of the councils reported that bollards leading into LTN areas had been stolen, which can cost thousands of pounds to replace.

Hackney ended up with the highest bill for fixing and realigning LTN cameras, with one camera which was installed less than two years ago in September 2021 having to be replaced a staggering seven times.