UK election: Conservatives to ban combustion engine cars by 2050

The Conservative party has revealed plans to ban cars with combustion engines from Britain by 2050.

In its election manifesto, Prime Minister Theresa May's party said it would work to make almost all cars in the UK zero-emissions vehicles, but when contacted by Autocar, it added that this included making zero-emissions powertrains a requirement for cars to pass their MOTs.

This would effectively ban combustion engined from the road from 2050. It says allowances could be made for classic cars, but that cars purchased new would have to conform to the legislation.

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The plans are designed to cut emissions generated from road transport, something that's been a hot topic with the recent emissions scandal and the UK's poor performance in Europe for emissions.

The Liberal Democrats party has taken an even stronger stance, pledging to ban the sale of diesel cars from 2025 if it wins the election.

Labour has refrained from announcing any bans, instead focusing its efforts on encouraging the uptake of cleaner transport.

Recent polls show the that the Conservatives are the party most likely to win the general election on 8 June, meaning its 2050 plan is on course to be implemented.

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