The Tories say the reported plans represent a ‘full-blown war on motorists’.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski (Image: Getty)
Zack Polanski has been slammed over Green Party plans to reduce motorway speed limits to 55mph. The proposal is reportedly one of many in a policy paper drawn up by the Greens which has been described as a “war on motorists” by political opponents.
Disgruntled people have also taken to social media to voice their outrage over the suggestion. Responding to the reports, one X user described Mr Polanski as a “lunatic”, while another called the Green leader “a complete berk”.
The Conservatives accused the Greens of being “out of touch” with drivers over the proposals, which also reportedly include “incrementally” increasing taxes on motoring and making drivers retake their test every five years.
The Greens have suggested cutting motorway speed limits to 55mph, reports say (Image: Getty)
Under the plans, parking spaces would also be “steadily reduced” and the speed limit in urban areas and villages would be brought down to 20mph, according to the Daily Mail which broke the story.
The document reportedly states the Greens want to tackle the “decrease in walking, cycling and the use of buses and an increase in trips by car and air”.
It said the 55mph speed limit on “major roads outside of built-up areas” would improve both safety and fuel efficiency.
The policy paper also claimed “car driving is not a right but a privilege”.
Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary, told The Telegraph: “This is an outrageous, ideological assault on Britain’s motorists from a party that, like Labour, is completely out of touch with drivers and working people across the UK.
“Forcing 55mph limits on motorways, hiking taxes and punishing drivers will cripple commuters, damage the economy and make everyday journeys a misery. This is a full-blown war on motorists.
“Only the Conservatives have the team, plan and leader with the backbone to oppose these plans and tackle the pothole epidemic to get Britain moving again.”
A Green Party spokesperson has confirmed that it would consider the speed changes and claimed drivers are telling them it could “help keep their costs down”.
However, a party source also said that it’s not in the manifesto and it’s not clear if it will be in the next one.
Rachel Millward, deputy leader of the Greens, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she was “not aware” of a policy to reduce motorway speed limits, before later adding: “It is certainly not one of our leading policies at this point.”
Mr Polanski, who has overseen a surge in the polls for the Greens since being elected party leader in September, has not commented on the reports.
A Green Party spokesperson said: “The Green Party is a democratic party with policy decided by its members. Although this specific policy isn’t in our manifesto it feels very relevant right now because drivers are telling us they are reducing driving speeds to keep their costs down. People are really struggling.”