Motorists Could Be Charged To Use UK Roads Under New Proposal

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reported to be considering plans to charge motorists to drive on British roads.

According to a report in the Times, Sunak is 'very interested' in the idea.

As yet, there's no details on how charges could be calculated if the plan did go ahead.

The plans are being considered as a way to claw back some cash for the £40 billion ($52.7bn) tax shortfall left by an increase in people opting for electric cars, which reduces revenue from fuel duties.

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At the moment there's only a few schemes in the UK which use road pricing, including the M6 Toll and London's Congestion Zones.

An unnamed government source told the Times the Treasury had analysed potential options for a national road pricing scheme, but added that such a system was not 'imminent'.

A Treasury source told the Times: "The Treasury regularly explores lots of different policy options. This is no different."

The Treasury declined to comment when contacted by LADbible.

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Over the weekend it was reported Prime Minister Boris Johnson was set to bring forward a ban on petrol and diesel-powered cars to 2030.

Originally the UK had pledged to bring in a ban from 2040 - in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Johnson then brought this forward to 2035 back in February, following advice from experts who said 2040 would be too late if the UK wanted to achieve its target of emitting net zero carbon by 2050.

However, according to a report from the Financial Times, Johnson is now poised to bring it forward again to 2030.

"The Prime Minister is expected to move the date forward to 2030 in an attempt to jump-start the market for electric cars in the UK and push Britain towards its climate goal," the outlet wrote.

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Green Party MP Caroline Lucas tweeted to say it was 'very good news, if true'.

The report goes on to say that some hybrid cars, which use a combination of electric and petrol or diesel, will not be included in the update and could be on sale up until 2035.

The Financial Times reported: "The government is expected to keep the less stringent date of 2035 for the phase-out of the sale of hybrid cars that plug in to charge."

Topics: UK News, Politics, Cars

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19