Oct, 30 2025
When Reform UK took control of Kent County Council in May 2025, few expected the first major move to be the outright cancellation of a £7.5 million electric vehicle pledge. But by July 25, the new leadership didn’t just slow the transition—they scrapped it entirely. The decision, announced in a GB News report, marks one of the most visible reversals of net zero policy in recent UK local government history. And the message? "Fund us properly!"—directed squarely at the Labour Party, even though Labour holds just two seats on the council.
From Promise to Pause: The EV Plan That Never Got Off the Ground
Back in 2022, Kent County Council pledged to convert its entire 116-van fleet—and over 230 leased vehicles—to zero-emission models by 2030. The plan was part of a broader £25 million net zero strategy, including building charging infrastructure and retrofitting council buildings for energy efficiency. But here’s the twist: as of July 2025, only six of those 116 vans had been replaced with electric models. That’s less than 5%. The rest? Still running on diesel and petrol. Leased vehicles, which make up the bulk of the fleet, were never even included in the council’s direct control."It had only transitioned six of its electric vans so far," a council spokesperson admitted to GB News. The disconnect between ambition and reality was glaring. Critics say the original plan was always more symbolic than practical—especially given the council’s long-standing budget pressures. Now, with Reform UK in charge, the excuse isn’t lack of funding anymore. It’s ideology.
Political Earthquake: How Reform UK Took Kent
The May 1, 2025 local elections didn’t just change the balance of power—they shattered it. Reform UK captured 37% of the vote and 57 council seats, turning a Conservative stronghold into a Reform stronghold overnight. The Conservative Party, which had governed Kent since 1993, collapsed from 62 seats to just five. Labour, once a major player in the region, was reduced to two seats. The Liberal Democrats won 12, and the Green Party held five.What does this mean? It means local policy now reflects the priorities of a party that campaigned on slashing "green waste" and "unaffordable climate mandates." Reform UK’s Department of Local Government Efficiency didn’t just cut EV funding—they made it a statement. "We’re not against the environment," said one Reform councillor in a private briefing. "We’re against spending money we don’t have on targets no one’s even close to hitting."
"Fund Us Properly!"—The Labour Target
The phrase "Fund us properly!" didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s a direct jab at the Labour Party, which, despite holding no seats on the council, still controls national funding streams. Reform UK’s argument is simple: if Labour wants councils to spend millions on EVs and retrofits, then London needs to send the cash—no strings attached. But the reality is more complicated. Kent’s EV plan was always funded through a mix of local budgets and modest national grants. The £7.5 million cut doesn’t mean the money was sitting idle—it was being allocated over five years, with some already spent on planning and pilot projects.Unite Against Division, a local advocacy group, confirmed the cut also includes £3.2 million from a separate net zero property retrofit programme. That’s over £10 million gone from climate resilience efforts in just one county. "They’re not saving money—they’re shifting costs," said local environmental economist Dr. Helen Moore. "Every diesel van they keep on the road costs more in maintenance, fuel, and health impacts over time."
What’s Really Being Saved? And Who Pays?
Reform UK claims the £7.5 million cut will "save taxpayers money." But here’s what’s not being said: the council still has to maintain those 110 non-electric vans. Diesel fuel prices haven’t dropped. Maintenance costs for older vehicles are rising. And with the UK’s upcoming diesel van ban in city centres (set for 2030), Kent’s fleet could face fines or restricted access to major hubs like Canterbury and Maidstone.Even the charging infrastructure already installed—five public chargers at council depots—is now at risk of being repurposed or removed. "We’ve spent £1.1 million on those," said a senior council engineer who spoke anonymously. "Now we’re told to turn them off. What’s the point?"
Meanwhile, local businesses that were counting on the council’s EV transition to spur private investment in charging networks are now hesitant. One logistics firm in Ashford told the Kent Messenger they’d paused a £2 million private EV fleet upgrade because "the council’s flip-flop makes the whole market feel unstable."
What’s Next? The Ripple Effect
Kent isn’t alone. Similar debates are brewing in Essex, Sussex, and Lincolnshire, where Reform UK also made gains. If other councils follow suit, the UK’s national EV adoption rate—already lagging behind the EU—could stall. The Department for Transport’s own figures show local authority fleets account for 12% of public-sector EVs. Lose those, and you lose momentum.Reform UK insists this is about fiscal responsibility. But critics point out: they’ve also cut £1.8 million from youth services and £2.1 million from road maintenance. The pattern isn’t just about net zero—it’s about rolling back any spending that doesn’t deliver immediate, visible results.
As for the original 2030 target? It’s dead. The council’s website now lists the EV goal as "under review." No new date. No plan. Just silence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this affect Kent residents’ daily lives?
Residents may see fewer electric buses or council vehicles on the road, and public EV charging points could disappear. Long-term, air quality in towns like Dartford and Gravesend may worsen as older diesel vans stay in service. Emergency services and waste collection fleets—still largely non-electric—won’t benefit from cleaner technology, potentially increasing local pollution and health costs.
Why target Labour if they don’t control Kent County Council?
Reform UK is using Labour as a national symbol of what they call "top-down green mandates." Even though Labour holds no seats locally, they control the Treasury and set funding rules. By blaming Labour, Reform shifts blame for underfunded local projects onto Westminster, framing their cuts as resistance to unfair demands—not poor planning.
What happened to the £7.5 million that was supposed to be spent?
The money wasn’t sitting in a bank—it was allocated across five fiscal years for vehicle purchases, charger installations, and staff training. Some funds were already spent on planning and pilot programs. The remainder is now being redirected to general revenue, with no public breakdown of how it will be reallocated. Critics say it’s being used to plug gaps from other cuts.
Is there any legal way to challenge this decision?
Legally, no. Local councils have full autonomy over their budgets. But environmental groups are exploring judicial review options, arguing the decision violates the Climate Change Act 2008’s requirement for public bodies to consider emissions. A legal challenge would be costly and uncertain, but it could set a precedent for other councils.
Could this affect UK-wide net zero goals?
Yes. Local authority fleets are a key part of the government’s transport decarbonisation strategy. If multiple councils follow Kent’s lead, the UK could fall behind its 2030 target of 1.5 million public-sector EVs. That could trigger national funding cuts or penalties from the EU or UN climate reporting frameworks.
What’s the long-term cost of keeping diesel vans?
According to a 2024 Transport for London study, diesel vans cost 37% more to run over a 10-year lifespan than EVs when factoring in fuel, maintenance, and emissions penalties. Kent’s 110 remaining vans could cost an extra £18 million over the next decade—far more than the £7.5 million saved upfront. That’s money taxpayers will pay anyway—just later, and in less visible ways.