The Liberal Democrats have launched their 2024 election manifesto, filled with key pledges on health and social care along with the EU, but also containing some big commitments for transport.

The manifesto is intended to pave the way for a fair deal on the economy, public services and the environment as part of a “truly fair democracy”

Dubbed ‘For a Fair Deal’, the manifesto is the first among the major parties to be released for the 2024 general election and intended to pave the way for a fair deal on the economy, public services and the environment as part of a “truly fair democracy”.

Policies front and centre include a £9bn rescue package to save the NHS and social care, raised by taxing “big banks and billionaires”, and commitments to solve the cost-of-living crisis for the long term.

The 114-page document also sets out plans to join the single market, after “ties of trust and friendship” between the UK and EU have been renewed, ahead of a “longer-term ambition” to rejoin the EU. Other key selling points include making Britain one of the most attractive places in the world for businesses to invest, and ending the sewage crisis.

There are also commitments on “the bold, urgent action needed to tackle climate change” in a move to achieve net zero by 2045, five years earlier than the current legally binding 2050 target.

An investment in electric vehicles and clean public transport

When it comes to transport, the standout measures include plans to make it cheaper and easier for drivers to switch to electric vehicles.

This would include “restoring the requirement that every new car and small van sold from 2030 is zero-emission” as the party warned of the Tories’ “chaotic” U-turn having seriously undermined electric vehicle manufacturing. What hasn’t been revealed is whether this would leave hybrids with “significant zero-emission capability” on sale until 2035, which had been the plan before Rishi Sunak’s rowback in September 2023.

The Lib Dems would also reintroduce the Plug-in Car Grant, which was axed under the Tories in June 2022 in a move that’s been criticised by many in the EV and motoring sector since. A recent report by the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee called for targeted grants for electric cars to support consumers and stimulate the market.

And Sir Ed Davey’s party said it would rapidly deploy far more charging points as it warned the Conservatives had “failed to roll out electric charging points at anything like the speed necessary”. This would include residential on-street points and ultra-fast chargers at service stations. New charging points would be supported with an upgraded National Grid and a step-change in local grid capacity.

It would also cut VAT on public charging from 20%, bringing it in line with the 5% rate levied on domestic energy – a move called for by many stakeholders but recently rejected by the Tories.

The Lib Dems would also require all charging points to be accessible with a bank card. The current Public Charge Point Regulations, which came into force 24 November 2023, only mandate contactless payment for new public charge points of 8kW and above and existing charge points of 50 kW and above.

The manifesto also includes plans to give more of the roads budget to local councils to maintain existing roads, pavements and cycleways, including repairing potholes. The Lib Dems also said they would protect motorists from rip-offs, including unfair insurance and petrol prices, while also pushing a new nationwide active travel strategy, backed by new cycling and walking networks.

Other policies include a freeze on train fares, a review of the Conservatives’ cancellation of the northern leg of HS2, a boost to bus services and work to reduce the climate impact of flying.

The manifesto says: “By investing in electric vehicles and clean public transport, as well as encouraging walking and cycling, Liberal Democrats will enhance local, regional and national connectivity while boosting the economy, protecting the environment and improving public health.”

‘Solid, well-thought-through commitments’ but with some gaps

The commitments were generally well received by many across the EV, motoring and transport sectors but with some comments on where more action was needed.

The promises of more money for local road maintenance and additional support for the transition to EVs were welcomed

Campaign group Transport & Environment said there were “some solid, well-thought-through commitments” and praised the fact that the Lib Dems has seen that an upgraded national electricity grid comes hand in hand with improving the nation’s charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

But Matt Finch, UK policy manager at Transport & Environment, said there was a “worrying lack of acknowledgement here” of the need to decarbonise shipping and trucks.

The RAC welcomed the promises of more money for local road maintenance and additional support for the transition to electric vehicles but said clear spending allocations would be needed to gauge any meaningful improvements for drivers.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams continued: “More than half (55%) of drivers tell us the high upfront cost of an electric vehicle is what prevents them from opting for one in the first place. A pledge to reinstate the Plug-in Car Grant is very positive, as is a commitment to install more chargers on residential streets and more ultra-fast chargers at service stations.

“The promise to end the VAT charging disparity is particularly welcome, as currently those charging at home pay just 5% in stark contrast to those using public chargers who are hit with a 20% rate. This is something we, along with the FairCharge campaign, have long been calling for as it creates an unnecessary barrier to switching to an EV for those who can’t charge at home.”

He also said that the reference to roads budgets for council must equate to proper long-term funding, “which is what authorities so desperately need to bring our local roads back up to a fit-for-purpose state”.

“Without this, we fear the amount of council road maintenance will continue to decline from its current five-year-low. We badly need to see more preventative maintenance that extends the lives of roads and more resurfacing to tackle the worst affected routes rather than just patching potholes and hoping for the best,” Williams added.

The AA greeted the manifesto and its commitments.

Jakob Pfaudler, AA CEO, said: “We are pleased that this announcement reflects our call in the AA Motoring Manifesto that showed we need more accessible charge points to help the EV transition.

“We also called for more transparency in fuel prices and are pleased that this is recognised in their manifesto.”

Finally, Logistics UK praised the Lib Dems for recognising the importance of growing the economy, including by partnering with business, enabling the transition to EVs, delivering rail freight electrification, reforming the apprenticeship levy and removing barriers to trade.

But Kevin Green, policy director at the business group Logistics UK, added: “To unleash the power of logistics to drive growth, it is vital for the incoming government to go further, with the appointment of a dedicated minister for logistics and supply chain, the establishment of a logistics roadmap to net zero, and the delivery of a national logistics network, which covers all transport modes and infrastructure to optimise the movement of goods. This must recognise rather than inhibit the value of air freight to the UK’s economy, both domestically and internationally.

“It is important that the next government recognises and addresses the high cost of doing business, which is inhibiting investment in decarbonisation and growth for our sector.”

The Liberal Democrats’ 2024 manifesto is online here.