Andy Burnham recuses himself from UK electric vehicle mandate decision

Andy Burnham has stepped aside from the decision-making process regarding the United Kingdom’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate due to a potential conflict of interest. The recusal follows reports that his wife, Marie-France van Heel, serves as an advisor to the board of Be. EV, a Manchester-based electric vehicle charging network owned by Iduna Infrastructure.

The Prime Minister has transferred responsibility for any changes to the mandate to Louise Haigh, the First Secretary of State. This development occurs amid internal government disagreements regarding the 2030 electric car sales targets. While the current mandate requires 80 per cent of new car sales to be electric, the Treasury and the Business Department are advocating for a reduction to 50 per cent to attract overseas automotive investment and protect jobs.

Other departments remain divided: the Department for Transport is reportedly considering a 60 per cent target, while the energy department supports maintaining the existing mandate. Downing Street has stated that the government remains united in its commitment to phasing out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030.