Rees-Mogg says government cannot afford greater subsidies for EVs

During business questions today to the Leader of the House of Commons, Kerry McCarthy MP (Bristol East, Labour) said: "Today the government announced that plug-in grants for the purchase of new EVs would be slashed again from £3,000 to £2,500. The government is committed to a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030, but at the moment new EVs are not affordable for many people." She called for a statement so ministers could be asked why the policy seemed to be going in completely the wrong direction.

Jacob Rees-Mogg replied that there was a limit to taxpayers' money. As more EVs were produced, so they became more efficient and so the price fell. This was a natural economic process which would be led by the private sector. "We managed to switch from the horse and cart to the internal combustion engine without large government subsidies. So, a little bit of government help is right, but it can't be excessive. The taxpayers can't afford it."