The Green Party is conducting a comprehensive review of its policies following a Daily Mail investigation that exposed a series of contentious transport proposals. According to the Daily Mail, the party's plans include reducing motorway speed limits to 55mph, incrementally increasing car taxes, reducing parking spaces, and requiring drivers to retake driving tests every five years. The Conservatives have seized on these proposals, accusing the Green Party of waging a 'war on drivers'.
The controversy deepened when Green Party Deputy Leader Rachel Millward appeared unaware of the 55mph motorway speed limit policy during a press conference. When asked by BBC Radio 4 presenter Anna Foster about the policy, Millward said: "I am not aware of that policy. It may or may not be one of our policies chosen by members which goes through a conference process and is then voted in. I am not sure about that." Foster pressed her, saying: "To be clear you are saying that that might be part of your policy? You are the deputy leader – if you were lower down I might not expect you to know but you are the deputy leader so you don’t even know if that is something that is being discussed as a policy?" Millward replied: "It is certainly not one of our leading policies at this point. There are policies that have been developed over time through the party. But it is not something we are campaigning on in this election." The Daily Mail reports that the Green Party's transport policy explicitly states that on major roads outside built-up areas, the maximum speed limit would be 55mph to maximize fuel efficiency and improve safety. It also says driving tests would be made more comprehensive and stricter, and would be done at regular intervals, such as every five years.
To be clear you are saying that that might be part of your policy? You are the deputy leader – if you were lower down I might not expect you to know but you are the deputy leader so you don’t even know if that is something that is being discussed as a policy?
In response to the Daily Mail's revelations, the Green Party announced it will conduct a sweeping review of its policies. According to the Daily Mail, the party's immigration policy, which states the party wants 'a world without borders', has been earmarked for review, along with the transport policy. A Green official told the Daily Mail: "Right now it’s like we’ve got a list of policies for the Daily Mail to ring us up about." Green Party leader Zack Polanski acknowledged the need for reform, saying: "Our policy making process came about when we had something like 20,000 members. We just hit 226,000, so in terms of how the conference process works, I think the obvious place I would start is - it's not working as well as it should at the moment." A Green source added: "But generally there's an awareness that perhaps it's time to review how these things work and what the current policies are."
Despite the review, the Green Party has refused to back down on plans to legalize heroin, crack cocaine, and GHB, according to the Daily Mail. The party maintains its stance on drug decriminalization, which has been a longstanding policy, and will not bow to pressure on this issue.
Right now it’s like we’ve got a list of policies for the Daily Mail to ring us up about.
The Conservative Party has positioned itself as the champion of drivers, unveiling its own 'Plan for Drivers' in response to the Green Party's proposals. According to the Conservative Party, the plan includes ending blanket 20mph speed limit schemes, reviewing existing 20mph schemes and restoring 30mph limits where blanket approaches are widely ignored, ending 24-hour bus lanes except with specific written permission from a minister, and reversing a fuel duty hike due in September. Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said: "This will drive up costs for working families and bring the country to a standstill. It is completely out of touch with how people live. Only the Conservatives will stand up for drivers, protect your freedom to move, and keep Britain moving." Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch added: "Labour only see drivers as a cash cow. Hiking fuel duty in a global oil crisis. 20mph roads. Banning petrol and diesel cars. Keir Starmer wants to make drivers’ lives as difficult as possible. The Conservatives are different. We understand that hardworking families and businesses need their cars and we have a plan to ensure we get Britain moving again."
The Conservative plan also promises to spend £100m on pothole repairs, clear driving test backlogs, and scrap the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars, according to the Conservative Party. Holden said: "Under Labour, you wait six months to take your test, pay through the nose at the pump, crawl through blanket 20mph zones the council never asked anyone about, then hit a pothole that writes off your suspension. Conservatives have the plan to fix it." A Conservative spokesperson added: "Councils across the country have turned bus lanes into 24/7 enforcement traps. Conservatives will restore a common-sense approach to how road space is used."
Our policy making process came about when we had something like 20,000 members. We just hit 226,000, so in terms of how the conference process works, I think the obvious place I would start is - it's not working as well as it should at the moment.
Meanwhile, Restore Britain has proposed raising motorway speed limits to 80mph, according to the party. This contrasts sharply with the Green Party's proposed 55mph limit, highlighting the wide divergence in transport policies among political parties.
The effectiveness of 20mph speed limits remains a point of contention. The Conservatives claim blanket 20mph limits are widely ignored and should be reviewed, while charities and some local authorities support 20mph limits as effective in reducing crashes and injuries. This disagreement reflects a broader political debate on traffic safety versus driver convenience, with implications for local transport policy.
But generally there's an awareness that perhaps it's time to review how these things work and what the current policies are.
Several unknowns remain. It is unclear what specific policies will be reviewed by the Green Party and what changes might be made, or whether the review will affect its stance on legalizing drugs like heroin and crack cocaine. The timeline for the Green Party's policy review and when new policies will be announced has not been specified. Additionally, how the Conservative Party's Plan for Drivers will be funded, particularly the £100m for pothole repairs, remains uncertain. Public perception of the Green Party's transport policies compared to the Conservatives' proposals is also unknown.
This will drive up costs for working families and bring the country to a standstill. It is completely out of touch with how people live. Only the Conservatives will stand up for drivers, protect your freedom to move, and keep Britain moving.
Labour only see drivers as a cash cow. Hiking fuel duty in a global oil crisis. 20mph roads. Banning petrol and diesel cars. Keir Starmer wants to make drivers’ lives as difficult as possible. The Conservatives are different. We understand that hardworking families and businesses need their cars and we have a plan to ensure we get Britain moving again.
Under Labour, you wait six months to take your test, pay through the nose at the pump, crawl through blanket 20mph zones the council never asked anyone about, then hit a pothole that writes off your suspension. Conservatives have the plan to fix it.
Councils across the country have turned bus lanes into 24/7 enforcement traps. Conservatives will restore a common-sense approach to how road space is used.