Andy Burnham has been urged to introduce a mandatory 50mph speed cap on all petrol and diesel cars as part of a set of recommendations for his first 100 days in office. The proposals come from Compass, a Labour Party pressure group, which has compiled a report outlining 100 policies for the new prime minister.
The plan has drawn sharp criticism from Richard Holden MP, the Conservative Party shadow transport secretary, who called it “absurd” and claimed it would contribute to a “war on motorists”. Holden said: “Labour, Lib Dem and Green Councils are already enforcing bonkers borough-wide blanket 20mph speed limits up and down the country, so nobody should be shocked that the next big idea from the left is to put a speed limiter in every car too.”
IPPR Report Backs Lower Speed Limits
The Compass recommendations follow a report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), a thinktank, which suggested that Britain should lower speed limits as part of measures to reduce the impact of the Iran war on consumers. The IPPR proposed capping legal speeds at 20mph in towns and cities and 60mph on motorways to reduce fuel demand and combat soaring oil prices triggered by the conflict.
The institute also recommended that ministers temporarily cut fuel duty by 10p and introduce a new energy price cap of £2,000 a year to support consumers. It warned that inflation could peak as high as 5.8% if no action is taken.
Economic Impact and Support Measures
William Ellis, a senior economist at the IPPR, said: “The UK cannot afford to sit back and let another energy shock drive up inflation and damage the economy. The UK economy and public finances are expected to take a significant hit from the Iran conflict, regardless of whether the government intervenes.”
The thinktank described lowering speeds as “a dual win”, explaining that it would lower fuel demand while safer streets would support swapping short trips to walking and cycling. The IPPR recommended that this be packaged with advice on driving more efficiently, alongside recommendations for increased home working and carpooling.
The proposals are part of a broader set of policies aimed at addressing the economic challenges posed by the conflict, with the IPPR emphasising the need for government intervention to mitigate the impact on households and businesses.
