It's Not 'Net Zero Madness' but Brexit Derangement That Is Driving Manufacturers Away From the UK

While the press blames the decline of British manufacturing on Net Zero, the real cause of Britain's economic woes is very different, argues The Bear.

Derelict factory in Birmingham. Photo: Colin Underhill / Alamy

Stellantis announced this week that it would be closing its Luton van plant, and the usual suspects have instantly pounced with the ever-predictable wails of how “Net Zero Madness” is wrecking jobs again.

Now if you listen to the spin, you’d think the company had been dragged kicking and screaming out of the fossil fuel age by tyrannical eco-zealots. According to this version of events the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate – requiring manufacturers to sell more electric vehicles – is to blame for all this, rather than, say, the UK’s glaring incompetence at making itself a viable place to do business.

In truth Stellantis isn’t shutting down their Luton plant because of net zero – it’s taken this decision because the UK is now far less attractive to global manufacturers than a wet sandwich at a picnic.

The reasons for this are obvious.

Brexit? Check.

High energy costs? Check.

No meaningful investment in battery production? Triple check.

But, as ever, don’t expect the headlines to mention those little details when there’s a much juicier scapegoat to be found elsewhere.