House of Lords Points Fingers: Rowan Atkinson’s Critique Linked to Drop in Electric Car Purchases in UK

LONDON: In a recent session of the House of Lords, Rowan Atkinson, famously known for his role as ‘Mr. Bean,’ found himself at the center of discussions regarding the decline in the sale of electric cars in the UK. The House of Lords, the upper house of the UK Parliament, specifically during its environment and climate change committee meeting, addressed the issue, linking it to an article penned by the actor.

During the meeting, the think tank Green Alliance presented its perspectives on the challenges faced by the UK government in achieving the goal of phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

According to Sky News, the think tank attributed part of the blame to an article written by Rowan Atkinson back in June 2023. They conveyed to the House of Lords, as reported by Sky News, “One of the most damaging articles was a comment piece written by Rowan Atkinson in The Guardian which has been roundly debunked. Unfortunately, fact checks never reach the same breadth of audience as the original false claim, emphasizing the need to ensure high editorial standards around the net zero transition.”

Atkinson’s article, titled “I love electric vehicles – and was an early adopter. But increasingly I feel duped,” expressed his sentiments that electric vehicles (EVs) were “a bit soulless” and criticized the use of lithium-ion batteries. The think tank’s assertion raises concerns about the impact of influential voices on public perception and the challenges in countering misinformation during the transition to a net-zero future.