German carmakers have ‘blood on their hands’ after rigging diesel exhaust tests, says Government’s former chief scientist

GERMAN carmakers have “blood on their hands” after they rigged diesel exhaust tests which led to the deaths of thousands of Britons, according to the Government’s former chief scientist.

Professor Sir David King said it was astonishing that BMW, Volkswagen and Daimler carried out the rigged experiments on monkeys and that this deception had caused the deaths of a large number of people in the UK.

Sir David, who was the government’s chief scientific advisor until 2007, described how he was tricked into believing diesel capture technology was safe during a trip to a British testing lab in Royston, Hertfordshire, during 2004, instigating a policy shift in favour of diesel cars.

His intervention comes as Volkswagen suspended one of its most senior lobbyists over this latest scandal according to .

Thomas Steg, head of international and government relations for the car manufacturer, was suspended pending a full enquiry after taking full responsibility for VW’s involvement according to the company.

Sir David said: “These companies have blood on their hands - I say that without any doubt.”