Are some lobbyists getting too excited?

21st Oct 2024

 

Like so many of you, I have kids. They are grown up now but like every parent I had my trying times (it is all perfectly normal and not worthy of broadcasting), but I do remember when they used to get over-excited about things.

All sense and rationality go, but they are kids, so they soon go back to normal. But in this period of over-excitement, usually around events, they can say or do some daft things.

Anyway, last week I read an article concerning a think-tank and EVs. The think-tank, which says it focusses on improving living standards for those on low and middle incomes, I think got a bit too excited about the forthcoming budget. It was making some strange suggestions, which I thought I would share with you as there may well be some cross-over to the energy system too.

The article suggested that if EV sales don’t increase, then petrol and diesel cars should be taxed more heavily to level the financial playing field. I’m trying to get my head around how this helps middle income families who either can’t afford an EV, or for whatever reason choose not to have one. It struck me as just a way to punish consumers for not doing what Whitehall says. Obviously net zero is used as the justification, everyone now uses this excuse, ignoring the clear dangers of doing so.

They also suggested that company car tax breaks for buying an EV should be scrapped since the advantages go to the relatively well-off. Now I agree with their logic on this, bear with me all you readers who get the benefit-in-kind tax break, but I fail to see how this helps sell more EVs. Given company and fleet EV sales make up 80 per cent of EV car sales, removing this tax break seems an odd call to make.

I know the budget is coming soon; the first of this new government and yes, I guess it is an exciting time for think-tanks and lobbyists. But it’s time for parents to exercise some control over what the government is lobbied on.