Prime Minister Andy Burnham has insisted that no decision has been made on cutting the UK's electric vehicle sales targets, dismissing reports of a looming cut as speculation. The issue is due to be settled at a crunch meeting in Downing Street today, Wednesday 11 November, with Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh overseeing the final decision.

The Guardian reported that Haigh is expected to agree this week to cut the target for electric vehicle sales by about a quarter, lowering the 2030 requirement from 80% of new car sales to around 60%. Reuters, reporting the same story, said the mandate's flexibilities would probably be extended until 2034. The Government has repeatedly stressed that nothing has been decided.

What the reports say

Under the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, introduced in 2024, carmakers must ensure a rising share of their annual sales are zero-emission vehicles. The target stands at 33% of new car sales in 2026, rising to 80% in 2030 and 100% by 2035. The Government launched a consultation on the mandate in August after carmakers warned that the interim targets were out of step with demand and supply chain conditions.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), battery electric vehicles accounted for 26.6% of new car sales in the first ten months of the year, well short of this year's 33% target. The SMMT has previously called the current mandate a "fantasy" and welcomed the review. Battery electric cars took a 32.0% share of registrations in October, the SMMT said, as the new car market grew for an eleventh consecutive month.

Under the options set out in the consultation, the 2030 target could be cut to as low as 50%. The Guardian reported that the Government is expected to sign off on a 60% target, a move that has drawn criticism from green campaigners, particularly with the COP31 climate summit under way.

Burnham: reports are speculation

Asked during a visit to Watford how he would justify such a move to those who see it as eroding the Government's commitment to the green agenda, Mr Burnham said the consultation on the mandate had concluded only a fortnight ago and was now being examined.

"The range of responses to the consultation… so these reports are just that: they're reports, they're speculation and no decision has been made at this point," he said.

Mr Burnham has recused himself from the decision because his wife, Marie-France van Heel, advises the board of Be.EV, the Manchester-based electric vehicle charging network. Ms Haigh, described as his de facto deputy, will oversee the Government's decision-making process and is expected to finalise the plan after today's Downing Street meeting, which was called to settle a long-running dispute between the transport, energy and business departments.

Government insists climate commitments stand

The Prime Minister's official spokesman insisted Mr Burnham remained committed to tackling climate change, saying his attendance at the COP31 summit in Antalya, Turkey, sends "a clear message that the UK remains a climate leader".

"The Government is fully behind the zero emission vehicle mandate, and no decisions have been taken yet," the spokesman said. "We're sticking to our commitments: on phasing out new cars that run only on petrol or diesel by 2030, (that) every new car and van will be zero emissions by 2035 and our legally binding net zero targets. None of that is changing."

The spokesman added: "The consultation is about getting the details right, so the switch works for drivers, for carmakers and for the hundreds of workers whose jobs depend on it."

Labour MPs and green campaigners object

The prospect of weakening the mandate has been criticised by some Labour MPs. Catherine Fookes, the MP for Monmouthshire, told The Guardian: "The Government has some incredibly difficult decisions to make in the coming months and the Prime Minister will need to weigh up the consequences of each. We need the ZEV mandate to stay, and Rosebank (oil field) to be rejected."

The Labour Climate and Environment Forum said in a social media post: "The Government is right to support the industry and its workers, but weakening the mandate will do little to help." Green MP Sian Berry said the switch to electric vehicles had the potential to create greater emissions savings than any other energy transition policy, adding: "Yet again, this Labour Government is heading in the wrong direction."

She urged ministers to boost uptake through vehicle scrappage schemes and cheaper, more abundant and more reliable public charging infrastructure instead of easing the targets. The outcome of today's meeting will show whether the Government holds the line at 80% or accepts a lower figure.