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    More Government support and public exposure to EVs needed, Polestar UK boss says

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseMore Government incentives and exposing more people to the technology around electric cars are key to growing the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK, the UK boss of Polestar has said.Matt Galvin said the UK was not currently doing enough to encourage people to transition away from petrol and diesel cars.The managing director of the UK arm of the Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer said the firm was also looking to increase its retail footprint in the UK to try to expose more people to EVs in order to answer questions they had about them and showcase how far the technology around charging has advanced.The automotive manufacturers are doing all they can to reduce the cost of manufacturing and therefore pass on those savings to the customer in terms of incentivesMatt Galvin, PolestarIn September, a new body called Electric Vehicles UK was formed to combat what it called “misinformation” around owning an EV, saying there was “a clear disconnect” between some perceptions of electric motoring and the “lived experience”.On more Government support for the industry, Mr Galvin told the PA news agency: “UK markets are the worst supported in Europe for any government incentives to help people transition from a petrol or diesel engine to an EV powertrain, and we really do need now for the Government to step up, and I’m calling for the Government to step up and assist not just Polestar but the wider automotive industry, to help customers make that switch.“I firmly believe that the automakers have made big steps forward in quite a short space of time to lower the cost of buying an electric car – they’re still quite expensive, let’s be honest, but the automotive manufacturers are doing all they can to reduce the cost of manufacturing and therefore pass on those savings to the customer in terms of incentives.“We at Polestar have recently launched a 0% finance campaign across all of our range, so I feel that we’re doing our bit, but there isn’t the carrot coming from the Government for people to make that change.“That carrot needs to come in the form of maybe halving VAT on all new electric cars, and certainly levelling that VAT on public charging – taking VAT down to 5% in line with domestic charging – that would also be a welcome step forward.”He added that “more needs to be done” around public charging infrastructure to help people get over so-called “charging anxiety” – the uncertainty about when and where a user can charge their EV, which he said had replaced older fears about the range of electric cars.“I don’t think it’s so much range anxiety that’s the issue, it’s charging anxiety. It’s ‘if I’m caught out, where can I charge? Is it easy? Am I going to be stuck there for hours waiting?’,” he said.“I think we all just need to re-gear our minds a little bit to be open to this new technology – because for the majority of people that (drive) eight to 10 thousand miles a year, they probably need to charge the car once a week because ranges have got much better.”The technology now is so much better, and it’s one of those things where, until you’ve experienced it and lived it, it’s difficult to get your head aroundMatt Galvin, PolestarIt was in this area in particular that Mr Galvin highlighted how technology was helping to boost the appeal of electric cars.The version of Google Maps used in Polestar’s vehicles automatically plots any required charging stops for users into planned routes, and can even be customised to allow drivers to set a battery charge level they would like to have in the car when they arrive at their destination.Mr Galvin said this ever-improving technology was a “super important point” to make around EV ownership because it “makes it nearly foolproof”.“The Google integration and the Polestar product certainly means you haven’t got to think about it – the car works it all out for you, even telling you if charging stations are available or working,” he told PA, adding that it was the key goal of the firm to expose more people to what EVs can do.“The technology now is so much better, and it’s one of those things where, until you’ve experienced it and lived it, it’s difficult to get your head around,” Mr Galvin said.“We run lots of test drive events all around the country to try and expose that experience to as many people as possible, because I firmly believe that once you’ve tried it, and you’ve experienced the savings that go with it – maintenance costs are much narrower for electric cars and if you can charge at home, the cost of fuelling is significantly cheaper than a petrol or diesel car – then actually, it becomes quite a compelling argument.“One of the big projects we’re embarking on this year and next year is we have the ambition to double the size of our retail footprint in the UK, so we’re going to go from eight or nine spaces to 17 or 18 spaces.“But we’re still a very small brand – we’re not BMW or Tesla – but we’ve got big aspirations to grow and grow quickly, and we need to do that by educating people, we need to do that by giving people the experience that Polestar offers, which is quite unique.“We need to be able to convey these positive messages about our brand, but also how easy it is to live with an electric car.”He added that the idea that EVs were more technologically advanced than petrol or diesel cars was a “marketing theme”, and one he felt was “positive”.“Technology is advancing at a fast pace and it’s advancing in a way that’s helping all of our lives in terms of day-to-day ease of things, getting places… and actually, the way we power and fuel our cars is developing quickly, and so is the technology that helps you to live with that car,” Mr Galvin said.“And I think that’s an important point, because you couldn’t have an electric car without the backup of the technology.“Having an electric car is one thing, but if you don’t know when or where to charge it and that becomes a headache, you’re going to fall out of love with it quite quickly aren’t you? So the two are married quite well together.”A DfT spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting drivers and manufacturers as we phase out the sale of new cars that rely solely on internal combustion engines by 2030.“There are already a range of incentives to help people switch and we will continue to work with industry on supporting continued demand.” More

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    Backlash as NFU chief says Rachel Reeves’ ‘tractor tax’ will hit seven in 10 farms

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseRachel Reeves has defended her so-called tractor tax after the former chief of the National Farmers Union (NFU) said it would hit seven in 10 farms.The chancellor claimed that “only a very small number of agricultural properties” will be affected by the changes to inheritance tax on farms, but Minette Batters said farmers are furious.“Farmers are reeling. My phone has been buzzing constantly and they’re bewildered, angry. And I think we need a lot of clarity about how this has been put together, the impact assessment and to see if this can be changed because it will have enormous consequences,” Baroness Batters said on Sunday.Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended her proposed reforms to inheritance tax on farms by claiming it is not ‘affordable’ keep the current system (Ben Whitley/PA) More

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    Pollsters warn Kemi Badenoch to avoid being ‘overly combative’ to win back voters

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseKemi Badenoch has been warned she needs to “avoid the perception she would cross the road to pick a fight” as she faces the daunting task of trying to turn the Conservative Party around from its worst general election result in history.The new Tory leader comes across as “energetic and fresh-faced” with voters, but pollsters have said she needs to avoid being “overly combative”.“I think that is going to be the defining task of her leadership,” More in Common executive director Luke Tryl told The Independent.Kemi Badenoch began her leadership by saying that the Partygate scandal was ‘overblown’ More

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    Non-recent allegation of sexual assault made against late Alex Salmond received by police

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseA non-recent allegation of sexual assault made against Alex Salmond has been received by police.Salmond was leader of the Alba Party up until he died suddenly aged 69 during a visit to North Macedonia last month.The politician was first minister of Scotland from 2007-2014 under the Scottish National Party (SNP) government but resigned from the SNP in 2018 after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct came to light.He was later cleared of all 14 charges in 2020 – being found not guilty of 12, while prosecutors withdrew another charge and one was found not proven.Police Scotland has now said a separate report of misconduct has been filed against Mr Salmond.A non-recent allegation of sexual assault made against Alex Salmond has been received by police More

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    Kemi Badenoch faces backlash after claiming Covid Partygate row was ‘overblown’

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseBereaved families who lost loved ones to Covid have condemned Kemi Badenoch for hailing Boris Johnson as a “great prime minister” and claiming that the Partygate scandal was “overblown”.The newly elected Tory leader said the story was exaggerated as she claimed the government should not have been fining people for “everyday activities” during lockdown.New Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Partygate was ‘overblown’ More

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    Video: Kemi Badenoch dismisses Partygate furore in first TV interview as Tory leader

    Kemi Badenoch dismissed the furore over Partygate, describing the scandal as “overblown” in her first television interview as the new Tory leader on Sunday, 3 November.The MP for North West Essex criticised the then-government for fining people for what she described as “everyday activities” during coronavirus lockdowns.She declined to be drawn into a “post-mortem” of the previous government but said there had been “serious issues” under Boris Johnson’s premiership — though she added that the Partygate scandal was not one of them.Partygate saw Mr Johnson fined for attending a party in Downing Street, one of several that took place under his tenure in breach of Covid lockdown regulations. More

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    Worst of Britain’s Brexit pain is still to come, admits Treasury minister

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseThe majority of Brexit’s impact on Britain’s economy is still yet to be felt, a minister has warned. In a damning assessment of Britain’s departure from the European Union, Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq said 60 per cent of the impact of Brexit is yet to materialise.The Treasury economic secretary cited Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts that the economy would shrink by 4 per cent in the long run due to Brexit. And Ms Siddiq said that Britain’s imports and exports would end up 15 per cent lower than they would be had the UK stayed in the EU.In the first time the government has quantified how much of the impact has so far been felt, Ms Siddiq cited further OBR analysis showing that just 40 per cent of the impact has materialised so far.Critics said the warning should act as a wake-up call for ministers as Sir Keir Starmer pursues a post-Brexit reset in relations with EU leaders.Best for Britain chief executive Naomi Smith called for the prime minister to pursue closer ties with the bloc in order to “trade our way to prosperity once more and mitigate against further Brexit induced damage”.And Stella Creasy, chair of the Labour Movement for Europe, told The Independent the next 18 months were crucial for Britain to address trade barriers at the border, visa problems for workers and the red tape holding back businesses.Sir Keir Starmer has embarked on a post-Brexit reset with the EU More

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    UK politics live: Badenoch claims Partygate was overblown as Reeves admits promising no tax rises was ‘wrong’

    Moment Kemi Badenoch is announced as new Tory leader to replace Rishi SunakYour support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseThe Partygate scandal was “overblown” and the government should not have fined people for “everyday activities” during lockdown, Kemi Badenoch has argued.In her first media appearance since winning the Conservative leadership, Ms Badenoch was challenged by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg over what went wrong under her predecessors after promising to be “honest” about where her party had made mistakes.Meanwhile, in another admission on Sunday morning, the chancellor acknowledged that she was “wrong” to promise no tax rises, blaming the previous Conservative government for hiding a “huge black hole” in the country’s finances.Rachel Reeves was shown a clip on Sunday morning in which she pledges no tax hikes during the general election campaign – days after she announced an overall increase to the tax burden of £40bn in Wednesday’s Budget.Speaking to Sky News’s Trevor Phillips, she admitted: “I was wrong on 11 June, I didn’t know everything.”It comes as Ms Badenoch is preparing her shadow cabinet.In a resounding victory announced on Saturday, the right-wing culture warrior won 53,806 votes over Robert Jenrick’s 41,000, out of a total electorate of 131,680.Ms Badenoch’s predecessor Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were among those who congratulated her following the four-month-long race.Show latest update 1730644229Trade union threatens legal action over winter fuel cutBritain’s largest trade union has threatened legal action over the government’s decision to means-test winter fuel payments.Around 10 million pensioners will no longer receive the benefit from this winter after the Government decided to restrict payments to people on pension credit in a bid to save money.Ministers said the move was necessary to help fill a £22 billion “black hole” they claim the previous government left in this year’s spending plans.But the trade union Unite said it believed the cut to winter fuel payments would have a “terrible effect” on millions of pensioners and demanded the government reverse its decision or face a judicial review.Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “People do not understand, I do not understand how a Labour government has taken away the fuel allowance of millions of pensioners just as winter approaches.“Given the failure to rectify this in the budget, Unite has now commenced judicial review proceedings challenging the legality of the policy.“It is not too late for Labour to register the hurt that this cruel policy has caused, step back from picking the pockets of pensioners and do the right thing.”Tara Cobham3 November 2024 14:301730642429Watch: Rachel Reeves admits she was wrong about public finances during electionRachel Reeves admits she was wrong about public finances during electionTara Cobham3 November 2024 14:001730641229Chancellor: I was ‘wrong’ on taxes during electionChancellor Rachel Reeves has said she was “wrong” when she said during the election campaign that she would not need to raise taxes, but insisted further increases will not be needed.During a campaign event on June 11, Ms Reeves said she would not need to raise taxes beyond the increases already set out in the Labour Party’s manifesto.But delivering her first Budget on Wednesday, she announced £40 billion of tax rises, including increases to employers’ national insurance contributions and changes to inheritance tax and capital gains tax, as she sought to pay for investment in public services such as schools and the NHS.Read the full report here:Tara Cobham3 November 2024 13:401730640029New Tory leader Badenoch promises ‘hard truths’ for country and partyKemi Badenoch said she will tell “hard truths” to both the country and her party as she began her first full day as Conservative leader.In her first media appearance since winning the Tory leadership election, Ms Badenoch said the UK is getting poorer and older and being “outcompeted” by other countries.She told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “We need to look at how we can reorganise our economy to be fit for the future, not just doing what we always used to.Read the full report here:Tara Cobham3 November 2024 13:201730639186Police receive ‘non-recent’ allegation of sexual assault against Alex SalmondPolice have received a “non-recent” allegation of sexual assault made against Alex Salmond, who was leader of the Alba Party up until his sudden death last month.Mr Salmond died of a heart attack on October 12 during a political visit to North Macedonia. His funeral was held on October 29 in Strichen, Aberdeenshire.Mr Salmond was first minister of Scotland from 2007-2014 under the Scottish National Party (SNP) government.He resigned in 2018 after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct came to light.He was later cleared of all 14 charges in 2020 – being found not guilty of 12, while prosecutors withdrew another charge and one was found not proven.Police Scotland has now said a separate report of misconduct has been filed against Mr Salmond.A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have received a report of a non-recent sexual assault.“The information is being assessed.”Responding to coverage of the allegations reported by the media, Alba Party general secretary Chris McEleny said the claims are “smears” and urged for Mr Salmond to be allowed to “rest in peace”.The former first minister of Scotland resigned from the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2018 after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct came to light More