Lee Anderson will be holding onto his diesel car “for as long as I can”, he has vowed on GB News, amid growing pressure for him to ditch it.
Britons are opting for more eco-friendly vehicles as a result of emissions charges popping up at an increasing rate across the country.
This means cars deemed less environmentally friendly are subject to daily fees if they are used in certain areas, like London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which charges £12.50 a day for non-compliant cars, motorcycles and vans.
Almost all diesel cars registered since September 2015 meet the Euro 6 standard, which makes them compliant with the ULEZ zone in London.
Lee Anderson says he will be keeping hold of his diesel car ‘for as long as possible’
PA / GB NEWS
While Lee did not specify whether his car meets the standard, the Reform MP said there is an increasing push to get Britons buying electric vehicles, something he personally intends to rally against.
“These electric vehicles – I think they’re a white elephant”, he said.
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Lee Anderson joined Chopper and Martin Daubney on GB News
GB NEWS
“I went around the local garage at the weekend looking at second hand cars, and I was astounded at how many electric vehicles were there, literally just one or two years old.
“They were down in value as well. People are getting rid of them. They’re unreliable. You struggle to find a place to charge them up.
“People are holing onto their diesel and petrol cars. I have a diesel car and I’m going to keep hold of that for as long as I possibly can.
“We’ve been sold a pup.”
GB News presenter Martin Daubney said he’s also got a diesel car which he does pay the ULEZ charge for, but he “doesn’t want to be forced to buy a car I don’t want”.
Lee was reacting to the news that Vauxhall will be shutting down its van-making factory in Luton, potentially leading to the loss of 1,100 jobs.
The plant is set to shut down in April, with the automotive group now entering consultation with unions and employees over the proposals.
Stellantis plans to transfer “hundreds” of jobs to its Vauxhall site in Ellesmere Port, where it will consolidate its electric van production.
The automotive group has also announced a £50m investment into the Ellesmere Port factory as part of the restructuring plans.
It comes after strong criticism over the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate which requires manufacturers to sell a minimum percentage of electric vehicles every year.
